gender & gender expression

Question 1

What is the definition of gender?

Answer 1

refers to the experience of being male, female, or other, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors

Question 2

Anatomical sex

Answer 2

obvious physical differences between males & females

Question 3

Gender identity

Answer 3

view of one’s self as male, female, or other

Question 4

Gender assumptions

Answer 4

gender is assumed & not necessarily binary

Question 5

Gonadal sex

Answer 5

sex as indicated by the presence of ovaries (females) or testes (male)

Question 6

Cisgender

Answer 6

individual whose gender identity matches gender assisted birth

Question 7

Gender roles

Answer 7

patterns of behavior viewed by a culture as acceptable for a male or a female

Question 8

Sex chromosomes

Answer 8

chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual

Question 9

What happens to the hypothalamus during sex differentiation of the brain?

Answer 9

becomes estrogen sensitive, influencing cyclic release of hormones, and remains estrogen-insensitive in males

Question 10

How does the cerebral cortex differ between male and female brains?

Answer 10

The right hemisphere’s cerebral cortex is thinner in females and thicker in males.

Question 11

What is the role of the corpus callosum in sex differentiation of the brain?

Answer 11

thicker in the female brain, potentially leading to different degrees of lateralization of function.

Question 12

Mullerian Ducts

Answer 12

develop into female reproductive structures

• becomes uterus, inner third of vagina, and fallopian tubes in females

– (disappear in males)

Question 13

Wolffian ducts

Answer 13

ducts develop into male reproductive structures

• turns into structures surrounding testicles in males
  – (disappear in females)

Question 14

Define disorders of sexual development

Answer 14

intersex conditions, which involve variations in prenatal gender differentiation, where surgery should prioritize function (e.g., improving urinary health) over cosmetic concerns

Question 15

What are the characteristics of a fetally androgenized female?

Answer 15

Chromosomally normal (XX) female with external genitalia resembling those of a male due to excessive exposure to androgens during prenatal development

Question 16

Explain Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome

Answer 16

Person with male chromosomes (XY) develops external genitalia resembling a female

Question 17

How does Diamond suggest treating disorders of sexual development?

Answer 17

• counsel parents according to best guessed identity
• avoid genital-altering surgeries during early years
• provide quality counseling and information to child and parent

Question 18

What are the characteristics of Klinefelter’s syndrome?

Answer 18

• chromosomes are XXY
• develops male genitalia but with smaller testicles, low levels of testosterone, infertility, and possible gynecomastia

Question 19

What is 5 Alpha Reductase Deficiency, and how does it affect gender identity?

Answer 19

• fetus w male chromosomes develops external genitalia resembling a female due to inability to convert testosterone to DHT
  – at puberty testicles descend and penis develops
• gender is usually male from early childhood.

Question 20

What is Turner’s syndrome characterized by?

Answer 20

• XO (sex chromosome from ovum missing)
• develops normal external female genitalia
• ovaries are underdeveloped, causing amenorrhea & infertility

Question 21

What does research suggest about physical strength between genders?

Answer 21

physical strength: males tend to be more muscular

physical/cognitive resilience: females have lower rates of certain development disorders

maturity: females are born more mature & mature faster

morality: males have higher death rates at all ages

Question 22

Explain Androgenital syndrome

Answer 22

• person with female chromosomes and female internal reproductive structures develops external genitalia resembling a male
• caused by exposure to high levels of androgens during prenatal development

-large majority identify as female

Question 23

From an evolutionary perspective, what types of gender-specific behaviors are more likely to be passed onto offspring?

Answer 23

gender-specific behaviors that increase survival rates of organisms are more likely to be passed onto offspring (aggression,etc.)

Question 24

Define gender socialization

Answer 24

learning society’s “gender map,” the paths in life set out for us because we are male or female

Question 25

Gender schema

Answer 25

collections of ideas regarding gender including behavior, physical characteristics, personality traits

Question 26

What are gender stereotypes?

Answer 26

fixed, socially-transmitted ideas regarding behavioral expectations of males or females

Question 27

Gender typing

Answer 27

process of learning to engage in behaviors deemed gender-appropriate

Question 28

Describe gender nonconformity/genderqueer

Answer 28

expressing gender characteristics in a manner not commonly associated w assigned gender

may or may not involved a traditionally male or female gender expression

can involve dressing in clothes of other gender for creative self-expression/entertainment

Question 29

What is transgender, and what are the common transitions?

Answer 29

experienced gender does not match assigned gender

may or may not desire to engage in medical interventions to alter assigned gender

MtF: male to female gender (transwoman)

FtM: female to male gender (transman)

Question 30

How do social learning influences shape gender identity?

Answer 30

observation of behaviors of other males and females and identify with these models

socialization: process by which adults shape behavior through communicating behavior (expectations and reinforcing or punishing behavior)

Question 31

Sexism

Answer 31

prejudice due to the expectation that a person will behave in undesirable ways due to his/her gender

Question 32

Define transphobia

Answer 32

irrational fear of/hostility towards gender variant individuals

Question 33

internal transphobia

Answer 33

transgender individuals who themselves hold negative attitudes towards the non-gender conforming

Question 34

What is gender dysphoria?

Answer 34

distress due to lack of match between one’s experienced gender and gender assigned at birth

Question 35

When does gender dysphoria often begin, and when can it be exacerbated?

Answer 35

often begins in children ages 2-4 when understanding of gender develops

exacerbated in puberty with appearance of secondary sex characteristics

Question 36

What are some suggested causes of gender dysphoria?

Answer 36

seen more often in individuals with disorders of sexual development

-some evidence of a genetic link

Question 37

What are the outcomes for gender affirmation surgery?

Answer 37

improve mental health reduce suicidal ideation for adolescents and adults

Question 38

What are some challenges facing transgender individuals?

Answer 38

higher rates of:
- unemployment and poverty
- HIV infection and smoking
depression, substance abuse, suicide
- transphobia, hate crimes
- lack of access to healthcare (refusal, blame, abuse, least likely to be insured)

Question 39

Define gender policing

Answer 39

enforcement of gender expectations