Gender advanced info flashcards
AO1
Explain the role of chromosomes in sex
- Humans have 46 chromsomes
- Sex is detrmined by the X and Y chromsomes
- -The ovum carries the X chromsomes only but the sperm carries both the X and Y chromosome
- To be biologically male you have XY chromsomes and females have XX
- The ‘Y; chromsome has a sex determining gene which can cause testes to develop
- The testes then proudce androgens like testerone
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Explain the role of testosterone during gestation
- Gonads are identical in XX and XY fetuses, but genetic information on the Y chromosome (SRY gene) causes gonads to become testes, if there are fetus is XX then the gonads become ovaries
- testes produce the androgen testosterone
- XY fetuses have higher levels testosterone than XX between 8-24 weeks in gestation
- in the hypothalamus, there is a sexual dimorphic nucleus which is bigger due to the levels of testosterone
- this causes the hypothalamus to increase in size, which improves spatial awareness
AO1
Explain the role of testosterone in terms of behaviour
-male hormone
-linked to aggression
-the reason for this according to the evolutionary explanation is because men would compete for the opportunity to mate with a fertile female
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What is the role of oestrogen
- female hormone
- determines female sexual characteristics
- responsible for menustration (in sex)
- In gender: high levels after birth linked to maternal caregiving behaviour
- reduction in oestrogen causes some women to experience heightened emotion and irritability during the menstrual cycle (PMS)
AO1
What is the role of oxytocin
- Oxytocin is known as the love hormone
- hormone is produced more in women than men particularly in childbirth
- proudced massively in labour
- stimulates lactation
- reduces stress hormone and facilitates bonding
- levels of oxytocin in men and women are similar during sexual activities
A03
What is the supporting evidence for testosterone
Wang et Al
- Gave 277 hypogonadal men testosterone therapy for 180 days
- found changes in body shape, muscle strength sexual function and libido
- shows how testosterone can have an effect on the arousal and physical development on adulthood.
CP
- O Connor et al conducted a double blind placebo study giving testosterone
- found increased testosterone levels in healthy men
- but no increase level of interactional and non interactional components of sexual behaviour
- also found men in study found no change in agression or anger levels
- therefore this suggests it may not have an effect on behaviour. However this does not challenge the role testosterone prenatally
AO3
Animal evidence for role of hormones
Young
- gave male hormones to female rats and vice versa
- found they showed revered sex behaviours for example the female attempted mounting
- suggest hormones play a role in the expression of gender behaviours
- Anotehr study by Quadango female monkeys deliberately exposed to testosterone during prenatal development were more engaged in rough and tumble plays and were more aggressive than other female monkeys
CP: animal studies hard to generalise to humans as the hormones may work differently in the human body. Also gender is affected by socilisation in society so how we develop may be different
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Social and cultural factors ignored (hormones and chromosomes)
Biology ignores social factors of gender related behaviour
- Hofstede et al, gender roles are a consequence of social norms
- ideas of masculinity and femininity are different in individualist and collectivist cultures
- countries that focus more on independence than community are more masculine
- these traits are seen as desirable in these societies
- this explanation challenges biological explanations as gender behaviour may be due the environment
AO3
Role of hormones and chromosomes is reductionist
Reduces gender behaviour down to chromosomes and hormones
-For example it is said that as women produce more oestrogen they are more likely to pick up on emotional cues from child compared to men (Heermen et al)
This highlights how complex behaviour like attachment being reduced down to hormones can be socially sensitive and typical gender behaviours may be better explained by cognition.
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Klinefelter syndrome
What is it, the physical and psychological characteristics
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- Atypical sec chromosome pattern
- this affects 1 in 600 males
- individuals who have Klinefelter are biologically male but they an extra X chromosome
- XXY
Physical characteristics
-Reduced body hair, breast development, long gangly limbs, underdeveloped genitals, problems with co-ordination
Psychological characteristics
-poorly developed language skills, passive and shy , poor reading ability, problems with memory and problem solving
AO1
What is Turners syndrome
What is it, psychological factors, physical factors
- 1 in 5000 biological females have Turners syndrome
- caused by absence of an chromosome
- XO
Physical
-do not have a menstrual cycle, shorter than average, have underdeveloped ovaries, webbed neck, hips not much bigger than waist
Psychological and behavioural
- have a higher than average reading ability,
- spatial, visual memory and mathematical tasks is lower than average, tend to be socially immature, have problems fitting in
AO3
Supporting evidence for nature (Atypical chromosomes)
Contributes to nature nuture debate
- Comparison of people with chromosome typical patterns
- Can Infer that differences have a biological basis and are direct result of abnormal chromosome structure
- Supports view that nature has a powerful influence on behaviour
CP
- environmental and social influence are more responsible for behavioural differences
- social immaturity seen in females with Turner syndrome may arise by the fact that they treated immaturely by people around them, which may effect their school hence explaining why there specific learning and developmental problems identified
- hard to presume differences due atypical sex chromosome
AO3
What is the real world application or research into atypical chromosome patterns?
Herlihy et al
- earlier diagnosis of turner and Klinefelter syndrome has positive effects
- an Australian study found that 87 people with Klinefelter who were identified and treated at a young age were managing their syndrome compared to people who are diagnosed in adulthood
- Also research has led to medical interventions which have improved the lives of people with this condition. For example, oestrogen therapy for people with Turners syndrome helps physical development during puberty
- suggests increased awareness of atypical chromosomes has real world application
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Sampling issues with Klinefelter
- people are placed in a database and the symptoms that are severe are identified thus the typical symptoms may be distorted
- boada et al reports that studies following people with XXY chromosomes are more accurate
- found tehy don’t suffer from significant cognitive or psychological problems and many are successful and academic
- suggests typical picture of Klinefelter and turners syndrome may be exaggerated
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Knowing and not knowing you have Klinefelter or Turner syndrome
- 2/3 people unaware they have syndrome
- may be good because it avoids self fulfilling prophecy
- however early diagnosis can lead to having certain expectations which can lead to bad outcomes
- but it can be argued early knowledge can help people understand the way they feel and it can help with treatment
AO3
Money et al (chromosomes in sex and gender)
Biological determinism
- Money argued sex of rearing was more important and that intersex individuals such as Reimer could be successfully raised as a boy or girl
- However, David showed a strong male identity despite being raised as a girl
- Other research by Gearhart who studied 16 genetic males born with no penis. 14 were raised as females and of these 8 reassigned themselves to male by the age of 16
- This research suggests that biological factors do have a key role in gender development
AO1
what did Kolhberg say about how we understand gender
- Young children inability to conserve (Piaget) will hold them back in understanding their gender
- once a child reaches the age of 6-7 they will have a better understanding of gender
-this suggest that cognitive processes is the basis behind gender identity and gender behaviours
AO1
What is gender identity
- Happens between ages of 2-3
- reached stage when they can label their own gender and others based on appearance
- example: can respond to questions like which one are you when shown a picture of a man or woman
- don’t know that gender is fixed over time
AO1
What is gender stability
- Happens between 3-5 years
- believe gender is fixed and constant overtime but not in situations
- for example may describe man with long hair as a women
- which means they still believe that gender is based on appearance
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What is gender consistency
- Happens between 6-8
- recognise that changes in appearance does not alter gender
- so they know that gender does not change across situations
- for example if a man is wearing a dress they would still say it’s a man
- Kolhberg says that child has a fully developed understanding of gender
- begin to identify with people of their gender
- believes gender stereotyping develops at this age
AO3
What is the supporting evidence for Kohlberg theory
Slaby and Frey
- found children is constancy seek gender appropriate models
- found that those in constancy stage when watching a film clip focused on same sex models for 68 seconds compared to 47 for those who weren’t
- boys focused on same sex model for longer
Damon
- found that those who reach gender consistency have rigid stereotypes
- how? Showed children playing with a doll
- children who were six and said that it was wrong for the boy to play with a doll
- suggests children who have achieved gender constancy have rigid stereotypes about gender based behaviour
- However SLT could explain the stronger sex typing in boys than girls due to societal pressures. In psychodynamic approach how Oedipus complex more formative for males than females
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Is it gender ages or gender stages (Kohlberg theory)
Bussey and bandura
- challenges research that gender appropriate behaviour starts at 6
- found children as young as 4 reported ‘feeling good’ when playing with gender appropriate stays and ‘feeling bad’ when doing the opposite
- therefore suggests children absorb gender stereotypes before the constancy stage
- so it could be argued that a better explanation could be gender schéma theory
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What are the methodological issues in Kohlberg study
Using interviews can be problematic
Why? Young children may not understand the questions they are being asked, and therefore the responses given may not be representative of how they think
-suggests that the ways of testing a child understand of gender may misrepresent what they know
AO3
Is it nature vs nuture (Kohlberg)
Kolhberg stages influenced by changes in developing brain and increased intellectual capacity with age
-this is supported by cross cultural research by munroe et al
Which suggests cognitive changes may be universal (nature)
-however bussey and bandura argue that social processes of observation, imitation and identification are more influential in gender development (nuture)
