gender - chromosomes Flashcards
how many chromosomes are there in a human being
46 in human body arranged into 23 pairs
the 23rd pair determines the biological sex.
what are chromosomes made of
made from DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
genes r short sections of DNA that determine the characteristics of a living thing.
what’s the chromosome structure for a female
XX
chromosome structure of male
XY
what chromosomes do egg cells carry
all normal egg cells produced by a human ovary have an X chromosome.
what chromosomes do sperm cells carry
half X
half Y
the babies sex is determined by the chromosome carried by the sperm.
what does SRY mean
the Y chromosme carries gene called sex-determinig region Y = SRY
what does SRY cause to develop
testes in a XY embryo.
these produce Androgens: male sex hormones.
what do androgens cause
cause the embryo to become a male.
without them the embryo develops into female.
all of above is the role of chromosomes
what’s the role of hormones in the womb
prenatally in the womb, hormones act upon the brain and development n cause development of the reproductive organs.
whats the role of hormones during puberty
during adolescence a burst of hormonal activity triggers the development of secondary sexual characteristics like pubic hair.
males n females have the same hormones but in different concentration.
what do men develop more than women that’s importance
(role of hormones)
primary importance male development is number of hormones androgens = testosterone
what does testorone control in men
Testerone controls the development of male sex organs
when is testorone produced in men
develops at around 8 weeks of foetal development
what research is there into testorone what did they focus on
most research on behavioural effects mostly linked to aggression.
human n animal studies have proved this.
VAN DE POLL et al 1988
showed that female rats who had been injected with testosterone became more physically and sexually aggressive.
what is Oestrogen?
is female hormone that determines female sexual characteristics and menstruation.
what does Oestrogen cause (PMT PMS)
causes women to experience heightened emotionally and irritability during their menstrual cycle.
this is referred to as pre-menstrual tension (PMT) or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
is PMS and PMT has become a diagnosable disorder what has it been used for
PMS has been used as a defence in cases of shoplifting and even murder
what is Oxytocin who produces it more men or women?
women typically produce Oxytocin in much larger amounts than men, particularly as a result of giving birth.
what does Oxytocin do
stimulates lactation making it possible for mothers to breastfeed. also reduces stress hormone Cortisol and facilitates bonding - been referred to as ‘love hormone’
produces cases amounts during labour n birth to make mothers feel ‘in love’.
if men produce less oxytocin what does this fuel
fulled the popular stereotype that men r less interested in intimacy and closeness within a relationship.
whats a counterpoint to the stereotype around men and oxytocin
evidence has suggested that both sexes produce roughly equal amounts during activities like kissing n sex.
evaluation points for the role of chromosomes and hormones
evidence supports the role of chromosomes and hormones
contradictory evidence
objections to pre-menstrual syndrome
overemphasis on nature
determining influence of chromosomes on gender identity - explain what happened to David Reiner supports this
-two twin boys Bruce and Brian Reiner
-born canada 1965
-botched circumsition at 6 months - Bruce left w/out a penis.
-parents made aware of JOHN MONEY up-and-coming psychologist developing his theory of gender neutrality.
- biological sex is less important is less important than environmental influence in establishing gender identity.
-Bruce was raised as a stereotypical female (girls clothes, dolls)
-Bruce progress was monitored by Money
-He advised to never tell Bruce the truth of his gender re-assignment.
- Bruce (Brenda) now in teens money talked abt the success of this case.
-reality different - Brenda never adjusted, suffered sever psychological and emotional problems.
-when her parents told her the truth abt her gender Brenda immediately switched back (David).
-David committed suicide in 2004.
what did James Dabbs et al find
found in prison population that offenders with the highest levels of testosterone were more likely to have committed violent or sexually motivated crimes.
what was Van Goozen et al 1995 study
studied transgender ppl who were undergoing hormone treatment - being injected w hormones of opposite sex.
transgender women showed decreases in aggression and visuo-spatial skills.
transgender men showed opposite.
this research suggests that sex hormones do exert some influence on gender-related behaviours.
list all the evidence support for the role of chromosomes and hormones
- case of David Reimer
-Dabbs et al - prison
-Van Goozen et al - trans
what was the double blind study, how is it contradictory evidence
double-blind study - Tricker et al 1996
43 males were given either a weekly injection of testorsone or a placebo.
no significant different in aggression were found after 10 week period between 2 groups.
contradictory evidence - whats the problem w previous research.
Van Goozen small sample and unusual ppl
limits generalisations that can be made.
what objections were made to pre-menstrual syndrome
questioned the effects of Oestrogen levels on women’s mood and object to medical category of pre-menstrual syndrome.
bc it stereotypes female experiences n emotions.
feminists critics (Rodin) that PMS is a social construction - not a biological fact but a way of privileging certain groups over others (men over women).
feminists have pointed to medicalisation of women’s lives n dismissal of women’s emotions, esp anger, by explaining them in biological terms.
