role of chromosomes & hormones in sex & gender

Question 1

biological approach to sex & gender

Answer 1

suggests its the same

Question 2

chromosomes

Answer 2

• found in the nucleus of living cells carrying information in the form of genes
• 23rd pair : determines sex

Question 3

role of chromosomes

Answer 3

• made from DNA
• genes are short sections of DNA that determine sex
• 46 chromosomes that are arranged into pairs
• female structure: XX
• male structure: XY
• normal eggs produced by a human ovary has an X chromosome
• sperm carries half an X & other an Y
• sex determined by sperm when it fertilises the egg
• hormones cause embryo to androgens which causes embryo to become male

Question 4

hormones

Answer 4

chemical substance circulated in the blood that controls & regulates activity of certain cells or organs
- gender development occurs due to influence of hormones
- bursts during puberty triggers secondary sexual characteristics (eg body hair)
- males & females produce many of same hormones but in different concentrations

Question 5

testosterone

Answer 5

• male hormone which controls the development of male sex organs
• production starts at around 8 weeks of foetal development
• linked to aggression
• Nanne Van De Poll et al: found that rats injected with testosterone became more physically & sexually aggressive

Question 5

oestrogen

Answer 5

• female hormone which determines female sexual characteristics & menstruation
• causes heightened emotionality & irritability within the menstrual cycle
• extreme cases of PMS have been used as a defence in cases of shop lifting & murder
• some have disputed the existence of PMS

Question 6

oxytocin

Answer 6

• produced by women more than men (during birth)
• stimulates lactation to enable breast feeding
• reduces cortisol & facilitates bonding ‘love hormone’
• released in massive quantities during labour & after birth
  
  • mothers fall in love with their babies
• evidence shows that both sexes produce equal amounts during sex

Question 7

Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Answer 7

• rare genetic disorder
• causes high prenatal levels of male hormones
• affects males or females
• easily identified in baby girls who have ambiguous genitals due to masculinising effects of male hormones
• Berenbaum & Bailey: females with CAH often described as ‘tomboys’
  - exhibit more aggression & show preference for ‘male’ toys

Question 8

AO3: supporting evidence - David Reimer (s)

Answer 8

• born male & parents tried to raise him as female after a cirumcision went wrong
• didn’t fell comfortable with his gender identity
• proves that biological characteristics are more influential than socialisation
• small sample : low temporal validity
• high ecological validity

Question 9

AO3: evidence for testosterone (s)

Answer 9

• supporting evidence for role of sex hormones in gender development even in mature males
• hypogonadism is a condition caused by a man’s testes failing to produce normal levels of testosterone
• Wang et al: gave 227 hypogonadol men testosterone therapy for 180 days
  
  • changes in body shape, muscle strength , sexual function & libidio were all monitored
  • testosterone replacement improved sexual function, libidio & mood, significant increases in muscle strength were all improved
• shows that testosterone exerts a powerful & direct influence male sexual arousal & physical development

Question 10

AO3: lack of evdience for testosterone (w)

Answer 10

• O’Connor et al: double-blind placebo study
  
  • increases testosterone levels in healthy young men
  • no significant increases in interactional components of sexual behaviour
  • no changes in aggression or anger
• suggest that additional testosterone may have no effect on sexuality or aggression
  
  • doesn’t challenge role of testosterone in early development

Question 11

AO3: social factors ignored (w)

Answer 11

• Hofstede et al: say that gender roles around the world are more a consequence of social factors than biology
• individualist cultures: those that place individual competition & independence as important (more masculinity)
• includes UK & US

Question 12

AO3: reductionist (w)

Answer 12

• reduces behaviour down to role of chromosomes & hormones
• ignores other explanations of gender
  e.g: cognitive approach looks at schemas & gender behaviour
  
  • psychodynamic looks at role of unconscious & childhood experiences

Question 13

AO3: pathologising gender (w)

Answer 13

• various recognised medical conditions caused by changes in sex hormones
  
  • e.g: premenstrual syndrome caused by fluctuating hormones within menstrual cycle
• patients suffering can access treatment on NHS to try to control symptoms
  
  • many object to medical categorisation as it stereotypes women’s experiences & emotion
  • claim that PMS is a social construct & not biology that encourages damaging stereotypes of ‘irrational women’ affecting how women are treated in society