Gender and Sexuality

Question 1

Gender Terminology: Androgyny (3)

Answer 1

• integrating masculine and feminine characteristics
• provides skills to be successful in both masculine and feminine roles
• linked with positive adjustment: higher self-esteem, higher psychosocial maturity, higher life satisfaction

Question 2

Contextual-Developmental Influences on Gender Development: Parents (4)

Answer 2

• different perceptions and expectations for each gender and differs between caregivers
• many parents make prenatal decisions for baby based only on biological gender of baby
• encourage gender-typed behaviour and discourage cross-gendered behaviour
• encourage same-sex playmates

Question 3

Contextual-Developmental Influences on Gender Development: Peers

Answer 3

• reinforce gender-typed behaviour and criticize cross-gender activities (as early as 3 years old)

Question 4

“Doing Gender” in Adult Relationships (3)

Answer 4

• once we reach adulthood, we try to exhibit androgynous behaviour, but we keep getting pushed back to gendered behaviour due to gendered factors
• typically, people trying androgynous behaviour in certain contexts will fall back into gendered behaviours because it is familiar and natural
• common especially after arrival of children and in relationships because it feels natural

Question 5

Reasons Why “Doing Gender” in Adult Relationships is Difficult

Answer 5

• since childhood, factors such as social construction of gender, influence of models, gender typing through socialization, parents, peers, media and the larger culture push gendered behaviours

Question 6

Emerging Sexuality

Answer 6

• sexuality in childhood

Question 7

Emerging Sexuality: What is normal of children in emerging sexuality? (2)

Answer 7

• normal for children to have sexual feelings, although they differ from how adults feel and perceive sexual feelings
• childhood self-stimulation starts at 2 years old and capable of reaching orgasm , quite self-oriented

Question 8

Adolescent Pregnancy (3)

Answer 8

• teens participate in more risky sexual behaviour, including not using proper contraception and protection
• higher risk for adolescent pregnancy
• teen birth rate (not pregnancy rate as this would include abortions) has decreased from the past; rate is double in USA compared to Canada

Question 9

Adolescent Pregnancy: Protective Factors (4)

Answer 9

• readiness to become parent: think they will be a good mom even if they are not good at other things
• maternal family and community support
• stability of living environment (family did not kick mother out)
• presence of baby daddy: physically and financially
• mother has no history of abuse, especially sexual abuse

Question 10

Sexual Coercion: Rape

Answer 10

• nonconsensual sexual penetration of body by the body part of another person or object

Question 11

Sexual Coercion: Contextual Influences about Rape/Sexual Assault (2)

Answer 11

• rape myths: characteristics of woman that ask for sex
• gender role stereotyping: encourages male dominance, aggression, and competition; man makes decision because he has power (common behaviour seen in fraternity houses, military, high-level athletes because of hyper-masculine environment)

Question 12

Sexual Activity in Adulthood

Answer 12

• sexual activity is highest in young adulthood, but there are exceptions depending on length of relationship
• modest decline over time
• frequency of sexual intercourse associated with emotional, sexual, and relationship satisfaction, as a well as overall happiness