Gender

Question 1

Sex?

Answer 1

Biological differences between males and females (nature) =

• including chromosomes and hormones.

Question 2

Gender?

Answer 2

Cultural differences between males and females (nurture).

Question 3

GID?

Answer 3

Sex doesn’t correspond with gender.

Question 4

Sex-role stereotypes?

Answer 4

Expected behaviours of males and females in a given society.

Question 5

What is the role of chromosomes in sex and gender?

Answer 5

1) . Males = XY.
2) . Females = XX.

• 23 pairs.
• Y determines sex at 6th week conception.
• Y caries SRY = develop male genitals.

Question 6

The role of hormones in sex and gender?

Answer 6

1). Testosterone =

• male androgon.
• associated with aggression.

2) . Oestrogen =
- female reproductive hormone.
3) . Oxytocin =

• implicates lactation and bonding at birth.
• released in huge doses.

Question 7

Evaluate the role of chromosomes and hormones?

Answer 7

1) . Supporting evidence =
- David Reimer –> chromosomes more important.
2) . Contradictory evidence for testosterone =
- Ticker et al. –> 10-weekly injection of testosterone = no difference in aggression.
3) . Pre-menstrual syndrome =
- social construct, based on stereotypes of female emotions.
4) . Ignores other factors =
- cognitive factors in thought processes influencing gender (GID).

Question 8

What are the 2 atypical sex chromosome patterns?

Answer 8

1). Klinefelters =

• affects males (1 in 750).
• XXY.

2). Turners =

• affects females (1 in 5,000).
• XO.

Question 9

What are the physical/psychological characteristics of klinefelter’s syndrome?

Answer 9

1). Physical =

• reduced body hair.
• rounded body contours
• breast development.

2). Psychological =

• poor language/reading skills.
• passive, shy.
• bad at problem-solving.

Question 10

What are the physical/psychological characteristics of turner’s syndrome?

Answer 10

1). Physical =

• webbed neck.
• no development of breasts.
• no menstrual cycle.

2). Psychological =

• high reading ability.
• low visual, spatial and math skills.
• socially immature.

Question 11

Evaluate atypical sex chromosome patterns?

Answer 11

1) . Contribution to nature-nurture =
- behavioural differences may show biological basis of gender.
2) . Unrepresentative samples =
- hard to generalise as people may treat them differently.
3) . Practical application =
- knowledge allows identification and treatment from a younger age ( Herlihy = more effective).
4) . Typical vs. Atypical =
- basing ideas on typical gender behaviours (being socially immature - turner’s).

Question 12

What are the 2 cognitive explanations of gender development?

Answer 12

1) . Kohlberg’s theory.

2) . Gender schema theory –> Martin + Halverson.

Question 13

What does Kohlberg’s theory focus on?

Answer 13

Maturation is displayed through appearence (logical/abstract thinking).

• children change as they age.

Question 14

What are Kohlberg’s stages?

Answer 14

1) . Gender identity (age 2) =
- can label own gender correctly.
2) . Gender stability (age 4) =

• understand they will always be the same sex.
• can’t apply logic to other people/situations.

3). Gender constancy (age 6) =

• sex stays the same regardless of appearance/context.
• can apply to others.
• understand when others don’t conform to sex stereotypes (man in dress = laugh).

Question 15

When do children begin to imitate role models (Kohlberg)?

Answer 15

Gender constancy =

• seek gender-appropriate role models to identify with.

Question 16

Evaluate Kohlberg’s stages of development theory?

Answer 16

1) . Supporting research =
- Slaby + Frey –> gender constancy children spent more time looking at same-sex models in images.
2) . Constancy not supported =
- Bussey + Bandura –> 4 year old’s understood gender-appropriate behaviour (good = boy toys, bad = vice versa).
3) . Methodological issues =
- young children lack vocabulary for interviews –> reduces validity.
4) . SLT =
- Kohlberg underestimate SLT role –> boys show greater resistance to opposite-sex activities than girls.