Gender Flashcards
What is a definition for Androgyny?
Is where a person displays a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics within their personality.
Outline Bems sex role inventory (BSRI). (Measures androgyny)
The BSRI measures androgyny. It was a self report with 20 characteristics commonly seen as male and 20 characteristics commonly seen as female and 20 neutral traits.
Respondents had to rate themselves 1 -7 for each characteristic/trait where they would fit into 4 categories
Masculine.
Feminine.
Androgynous.
Undifferentiated.
Evaluate the BSRI.
+ Piloted on 1000 students and 50 male and 50 female judges rated to 200 traits in terms of how desirable they were for men and women. Meaning the BSRI has a degree of validity.
- The BSRI was developed over 40 years ago and behaviours that are seen as typical since then have vastly changed meaning the BSRI may be outdated and lack temporal validity.
- Self report which can lead to changes in answers due to social desirability.
- Scoring system of 1-7 is subjective and people may interoperate the meaning of each number differently.
Outline the role of chromosomes on sex and gender (A01).
Each person has 23 pairs of chromosomes which carry 100’s of genes which contain instructions about physical and behavioural characteristics.
Male chromosomes - XY
Female - XX
Half of the sperm carry an X and half a Y the gender is determined by which sperm fertilises the egg first.
The Y chromosome carries a gene called the “sex determing region” which causes testes to develop in an XY embryo. These testes produce androgens (male sex hormones) causing the embryo to become a male.
Evaluate the role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender (same for both). (A03) (Need all for a 16 marker).
- Dr Money - Bruce born an XY male had penis burnt of during circumsision. He was then renamed Brenda and raised as a female taking on feminine roles and activities and took female hormones to encourage female development. Which at first suggests nurture is the overriding factor however when Brenda was told she was a male he reverted back to male appearances and took on male roles suggesting nature is a more important factor. However this is a case study reducing generalisability which reduces the extent to which this study can support.
- Reductionist - suggests that biological processes are the sole reason for gender. However psychological or environmental factors may be more important therefore a more holistic approach may need to be taken which takes into account social and psychological factors.
Batista boys - group o boys with genetic abnormality. Born XY but appear female due to a lack of testosterone within the womb. They were raised as females until puberty when they receive and increase in testosterone and become fully fledged males suggesting hormones play a crucial role in gender development.
- Deterministic as it suggests hormones/chromonsomes are responsible for gender and doesn’t take into account peoples freewill to choose their gender i.e Brenda changing to David.
Outline what a hormone is.
a chemical substance in the blood that controls and regulates activity of certain cells or organs.
What are the 3 main hormones?
Testosterone.
Oestrogen.
Oxytocin.
Outline what testosterone is.
a male hormone which controls the development of male sex organs.
Outline what oestrogen is.
promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics and is seen to regulate the menstrual cycle as well as heightened emotion and irritability during menstrual cycle.
Outline what oxytocin is.
a polypeptide hormone which controls key aspects of the reproductive system. It helps facilitate childbirth and breastfeeding. It also reduces stress and facilitates bonding.
