Gender Flashcards
Sex
The biological differences between males and females including chromosomes, hormones and anatomy. (reproductive organs, body shape, hair growth.) Sex is innate and the result of nature.
Gender
The psychological and cultural differences between males and females including attitudes, behaviours and social roles. Partly environmentally determined and therefore due to nurture.
Sex-role stereotype
A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for males and females in a given society.
Gender identity disorder
When their biologically prescribed sex does not reflect the way they feel inside and the gender they identify themselves as being.
The unusual case of the Batista boys
Imperato-McGinley et al- 4 children within the family were identified and raised as girls from birth. During puberty they changed into males. (testicles appeared and they grew normal sized penises. They missed a crucial chemical step in the womb, which meant their male genitalia was internal. Puberty produced this chemical later so they externalised. They quickly adapted to their new roles as boys/men meaning gender identity may be flexible.
Androgyny
Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one’s personality. Someone who can’t be clearly identified as male or female
Measuring androgyny- The BEM sex role inventory (BSRI)
A scale where 20 characteristics that would be commonly identified as masculine (aggressive), 20 characteristics commonly identified as feminine (gentle) and 20 characteristics that are neutral traits. The respondents are required to rate themselves on a 7 point rating scale. 1 is never true of me and 7 is always true of me. The scores then add up and put someone as masculine, androgynous or feminine.
Androgyny and the BSRI- evaluation
High test-retest reliability- The BSRI was developed by asking 50 male and 50 female judges to rate 200 traits in terms of how desirable they were for males and females. The highest scorers in each category became the 20 for each category. The BSRI was then piloted on 1000 participants and it broadly corresponded with their own description of their identity. A follow up study with a smaller sample of the same students revealed similar results a month later.
It oversimplifies a complex concept- gender identity is too complex to be reduced to a single score, in order to understand it more fully, a person’s interests and perception of their own abilities should be included.
Androgyny and the BSRI- evaluation extra
The BSRI was developed over 40 years ago and behaviours that are regarded as acceptable within gender have changed significantly since then. This may mean Bem’s scale lacks temporal validity. The questions in the categories were also chosen by people from the US so this may not be shared across all cultures and societies.
Chromosomes
Found in the nucleus of living cells carrying information in the form of genes. The 23rd pair of chromosomes determines biological sex.
Hormone
A chemical substance circulated in the blood that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs.
Testosterone
A hormone from the androgen group that is produced mainly in the male testes and in really small amounts in the female ovaries. Associated with aggression.
Van de Poll et al- injected female rats with testosterone and they became more physically and sexually agressive.
Oestrogen
The primary female hormone, playing an important role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive system.
Oxytocin
A hormone which causes contraction of the uterus during labour and stimulates lactation.
The role of chromosomes
Females are XX and males are XY. The baby will be a boy if the sperm carries the Y chromosome.
The role of hormones
Gender development comes from the influence of hormones. In the womb, hormones act upon brain development and cause development of the reproductive organs. At puberty, hormonal activity triggers the development of secondary sexual characteristics (pubic hair).
The role of chromosomes and hormones evaluation- evidence supporting
It’s supported by the case of David Reimer. Also Dabbs et al found that in a prison, offenders with the highest levels of testosterone were more likely to have committed violent or sexually motivated crimes. This suggests that sex hormones do influence gender related behaviours.
The role of chromosomes and hormones evaluation- contradictory evidence
In a double blind study, Tricker et al, 43 males were given either a weekly injection of testosterone or a placebo. No significant differences in aggression were found after the 10 week period between the 2 groups.
Case of David Reimer
Twin boys called bruce and brian. Bruce had a botched circumcision at the age of 6 months and was left without a penis. Money a psychologist was developing his theory on gender neutrality and told the Reimers to raise Bruce (now Brenda) as a stereotypical girl. In her teens she never adjusted to life as a female, she had severe psychological and emotional problems. When she was finally told the truth, she immediately went back to living as a man, then committed suicide later on.
Atypical sex chromosome patterns
Any sex chromosome pattern that deviates from the usual XX/XY fomation. Tends to be associated with a distinct pattern of physical and psychological symptoms.
Klinefelter’s syndrome
A syndrome affecting males in which an individual has an extra X chromosome (XXY). Characterised by reduced body hair, breast development, long gangly limbs, underdeveloped genitals and infertile testes. They may have poorly developed language skills/reading ability. May also be shy.
Turner’s syndrome
A chromosomal disorder in which affected women only have one X chromosome (XO) causing women to not have a menstrual cycle, no ovaries (infertile), no breasts, low set ears, webbed neck. Have a higher ability of reading. Memory and maths tasks are lower ability. Find it difficult to fit in.