Sex and gender

Question 1

Define Sex

Answer 1

The biological differences between males and females including chromosomes, hormones and anatomy.

Question 2

How is sex initially determined?

Answer 2

By different chromosomes: Males have XY whereas Females have XX.

Question 3

These sex hormones influence hormonal differences such as…

Answer 3

The production of testosterone or oestrogen.

Question 4

The sex hormone influence differences in anatomy such as…

Answer 4

Reproductive organs, body shape, hair growth.

Question 5

What is innate and the result of nature?

Answer 5

Sex.

Question 6

Define Gender

Answer 6

Psychological and cultural difference between males and females including attitudes, behaviours and social roles.

Question 7

What does Gender refer to?

Answer 7

A persons psychosocial status as either masculine or feminine.

Question 8

What heavily influences Gender?

Answer 8

Social norms and cultural expectations. So, gender is partly influenced by our environment so is partly due to nature.

Question 9

Sex vs Gender

Answer 9

Sex is a biological fact and cannot change whilst gender is fluid and a person may become more masculine r feminine depending on social context, norms or expectations.

Question 10

The Batista family demonstrate gender fluidity

Answer 10

The Batista boys started off life with the biological sex of a girl so identified their gender as female. However became effected by a rare genetic disorder that changed their biological sex to male. All four girls adapted to their new biological sex and identified with a male gender. This shows gender fluidity does exist.

Question 11

Define Gender identity disorder

Answer 11

When a persons biologically prescribed sex does not reflect the way they feel inside and the gender they feel they are. Some people therefore choose to have gender reassignment surgery to match their sexual identity with their gender identity.

Question 12

Define Intersex

Answer 12

When some children are exposed to hormonal imbalances in the womb so their genitals appear neither obviously male nor female at birth. Parents are usually encouraged to opt for surgery to make the child’s sex clear.

Question 13

What percentage of the population is born intersex.

Answer 13

About 1.7%.

Question 14

Define sex role stereotypes.

Answer 14

A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for males and females in a given society.

Question 15

What are the expectations in sex role stereotypes?

Answer 15

A shared set of expectation that people within a society or culture hold about what is acceptable or usual behaviour for males and females.

Question 16

How are these expectations communicated and reinforced?

Answer 16

Through society and the media, parents and peers.

Question 17

Example of same sex role stereotypes that have no basis

Answer 17

1- Women love shopping and men hate it.

Question 18

Sex role stereotype supported by biological brain difference.

Answer 18

Women are better at multitasking.

Question 19

Madhura Ingalhalikar- study that demonstrates sex role stereotypes supported by biological brain differences/

Answer 19

Scanned brains of 949 young men and women. Researchers discovered that women’s brains have better connections between the left and right side of the brain. Men’s brains display more intense activity within the brain’s individual parts. So, female brain copes better with several tasks at once whereas the male brain prefers to focus on a single complex task.

Question 20

Evidence for stereotyped behaviour- Smith and Lloyd

Answer 20

found when playing with children, adults provided children with stereotypical boys and girls toys based on the child’s appearance. Therefore reinforcing stereotypical male and female roles.