Gender work booklet 2-Biological Explanations and Atypical Chromosomes

Question 1

Chromosone definition

Answer 1

• DNA inherited at birth containing part of an individuals unique genotype (genetic code)

Question 2

Hormone definition

Answer 2

• Chemicals transmitted through the bloodstream via the endocrine system to influence the function of organs and tissues

Question 3

Zygote definition

Answer 3

• A fertilised cell that contains a genotype that reflects a combination of the male and female gamete

Question 4

Gamete definition

Answer 4

• Male and female sex cells (eggs/ovum and sperm)

Question 5

Gonads definition

Answer 5

• Reproductive glands/organs

Question 6

Chromosonal influences on gender

Answer 6

• Humans inherit 23 pairs of chromosomes from their parents at the point of conception
• Chromosomes determines genotype and their biological and phsiological development
• The 23rd chromosomal pair determines sex.
  -XX is female XY is male
• Around 8 weeks after conception the SRY gene on the Y chromosome casues the gonads of the embro to develop testes

Question 7

Hormonal influences on gender

Answer 7

• Sex hormones are present in both sex, however, the levels of each differ largely and it is this difference that is believed to result in gender differences in behaviour and abilities.

-There are three main hormones that are implicated in the development of gender: testosterone, oestrogen and oxytocin

Question 8

Testosterone definition

Answer 8

• During the sexual differentation process of an embryo developing testes, the androgen testosterone is released to cause the development of male sex organs and acts upon the hypothalumus to masculinise the brain
  -develops spatial skills
  -aggression, competitiveness, increased sex drive

Question 9

Oestrogen definition

Answer 9

• Oestrogen stimulates the development of female sex organs andf breasts and has also been associated with the feminisation of the brain by increasing neural connections between both hemispheres
  -increased verbal memory>linguistic skills
  -low oestrogen responsible for heightened emotionality and irritability during the menstral cycle, reffered to as PMS

Question 10

Oxytocin definition

Answer 10

• (Known as the love hormone) released in numerous social situations like falling in love, experiencing an orgasm or giving birth and breastfeeding
• Stimulates uterine contractions during labour, breast-feeding and mother-child bonding
• Pregnant women with higher levels bond more strongly and engage in mnore behaviours like singing, feeding and bathing with their infants
  -used to explain my intimacy is lower with men as they have lower levels of it

Question 11

Research evidence-David Reiner

Answer 11

Willy burnt off in accidental surgery to remove phimosis and raised as a girl as they was suggested that the gender of a person is just a social construct.

-The child grew up feeling uncomfortable as a girl and displayed more masculine traits as he grew up.
-Gender is not a social construct and is determinded by biological factors

Question 12

AO3 of biological explanations of gender-Young (1996)

Answer 12

Research support by Young (1966) who found that male mice given female hormones and female mice given male hormones showed gender atypical behaviour
-Shows that gender behaviours are determined by biological factors as hormones altered the mices behaviour

-difficult for us to generalise studies of mice to humans as humans have much more complex internal structures like the brain.

Question 13

AO3 of biological explanations of gender-Hives (1994)

Answer 13

In contrast to Young (1996), Hives found that only minor differences were found between girls with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and a control group who didnt have this condition that increases testosterone. The control group acctualy wanted to play with boys more.

-This shows that biological factors like hormones arent that significant in determining gender

Question 14

AO3 of biological explanations of gender-David Reiner

Answer 14

Provides support for biological explanations of gender. Within this study he had phimosis and during his surgery accidentally had his penis burnt off so from the advice of a psychologist that gender just a social construct so decided to raise him as a girl.
-He then grew up to posses masculine features and associated himself with more as a boy than a girl
-Shows that gender isnt a social construct and our chromosomes do have an impact
-However as this is a case study it only shows the behavioural characteristics of one person that has gone through trauma therefore is difficult to generalise to wider populations

Question 15

AO3 of biological explanations of gender-Biological reductionist

Answer 15

• Its biological reductionist as it reduces gender down to chromosomes and hormones and therefore ignored the influence of other explanations.
  -E.g the cognitive approach could acknowledge the influence of thought processes like schemas.
  -as thought processes are not adequatley explained through the biological approach.
  -Psychodynamic approach would acknowledge maturation as a factor but would point to the importance of childhood experience like interaction with family
  -gender is more complex than just the biological approach

Question 16

AO3 of explanations for biological explanation of gender