Hyde: Understanding Human Sexuality - Gender and sexuality

Question 1

gender roles =

Answer 1

culturally defined norms dictating how individuals of each gender are expected to behave. these roles affect personal identity, social expectations and behaviours, often reinforcing stereotypes.

Question 2

stereotypes=

Answer 2

common stereotypes generalize specific qualities or roles to men or women.

eg. women are seen as nurturing whilst men are seen as agentic (assertive, competitive).

although these stereotypes have evolved, surveys show that many remain prevalent and vary by culture, ethnicity and other factors.

Question 3

intersectionality=

Answer 3

this approach emphasizes the need to consider multiple facts of identity (gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status) simultaneously. intersectional factors can shape unique experiences, creating different roles that are influenced by historical and societal factors, distinct from other groups.

Question 4

socialization processes=

Answer 4

gender role socialization is driven by family, peer and media. eg. gendered messages in toys and media can reinforce traditional stereotypes, impacting individuals views and self-concepts well into adulthood.

Question 5

psychological gender differences

Answer 5

• aggression: men tend to exhibit higher levels of aggression compared to women. this has implications for understanding interpersonal and intimate relationships
• communication styles: women generally show greater skill in interpreting nonverbal cues and are often more inclined towards emotional expressiveness, whilst men are socialized to communicate more directly
• impulsivity and risk taking: men display higher levels of impulsivity and risk taking behaviours, which can impact both sexual and nonsexual decision-making. cultural differences suggest that these tendencies are shaped significantly by social structures

Question 6

gender differences in sexuality:

Answer 6

• men report higher rates of masturbation and are more approving of and comfortable with casual sex compared to women.
• men report more frequent use of pornography than women, often influenced by cultural and personal reasons. women use porn but report ambivalence due to the negative portrayals of women in porn
• men show higher physiological and subjective arousal to erotic stimuli, although all genders respond similarly to visual cues. men also have more consistent orgasms in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships
• orgasm gap, men orgasm more
• men report stronger sex drive across cultures, although there is significant individual variation

Question 7

self-report issues that may cause these gender differences in sexuality

Answer 7

the bogus pipeline method (fake lie detector) leads to similar reported numbers of sexual partners

therefore these differences are not real, but due to response biases and concealment of the true values by women?

Question 8

which biological explanations are there for the gender differences in sexuality

Answer 8

• differencesin anatomy: visible male arousal and relatively hidden female anatomy (may lead to differences in awareness and expression of arousal)
• testosterone has been shown to influence sexual behaviours in men and women, though men typically have higher levels. but the connection is complex and may contribute to general trends in sexual activity

Question 9

cultural influences that may cause gender differences in sexuality

Answer 9

• double standards, allowing men to be more free in expressing their sexuality
• societal pressures related to body image may affect womens sexual satisfaction and openness (insecurity leads to more inhibition in sexual contexts, due to the impact of negative body image on self-esteem and focus)

Question 10

strategies to reduce anti-trans prejudice

Answer 10

educational interventions and structured conversations, designed to encourage empathy and understanding

Question 11

transition process for transindividuals

Answer 11

1. social transition (clothes, names and pronouns that align with gender identity). for some this is enough
2. medical interventions: gender-affirming surgical treatments (mastectomies, vaginoplasties and phalloplasties) or hormone therapy (testosterone for transmen or estrogen for transwomen)
3. psychotherapy and affirmed care: understanding trans issues, using correct pronouns and supporting through social and medical transitions

Question 12

mental health of transpeople

Answer 12

elevated rates of depression and suicide, due to societal stigma and discrimination

Question 13

causes of gender variation

Answer 13

• biological: prenatal hormones, brain structures and genetics may influence the transgender identities (eg. gene variants in androgen- or estrogenreceptors)
• cultural and social theories: positive cultural change and increased visibility of transgender identities leads to people being more open