The role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender Flashcards
What are chromosomes?
Structures in the nucleus made up of genetic information
What are the 23rd pair of chromosomes?
The sex chromosomes
What are sex chromosomes?
The chromosomes that determine an individual’s sex
What sex chromosomes do females have?
XX
What sex chromosomes do males have?
XY
What internal and external genitalia do individuals with XX chromosomes normally have?
Ovaries and vagina
What internal and external genitalia do individuals with XY chromosomes normally have?
Testes and penis
Name two syndromes associated with atypical sex chromosomes.
Turner’s syndrome and Klinefelter’s syndrome
What is the sex chromosome configuration in Klinefelter’s syndrome?
XXY
What is the sex chromosome configuration in Turner’s syndrome?
X
What external genitalia do individuals with Klinefelter’s syndrome have?
A penis
What external genitalia do individuals with Turner’s syndrome have?
A vagina
What characteristics do individuals with Klinefelter’s syndrome have?
Taller than normal, less muscular, less facial hair, broader hips, breast tissue + infertile
What characteristics do individuals with Turner’s syndrome have?
Shorter than average, no menstrual cycle, webbed neck, narrow hips + cognitive impairments
What does intersex mean?
An individual who is neither distinctly male or female due to a biological mismatch
Which hormone is associated with men?
Testosterone
Which hormone is associated with women?
Oestrogen
What is testosterone responsible for?
Stimulating the development of male-typical secondary sexual characteristics
What is oestrogen responsible for?
Stimulating the development of female-typical secondary sexual characteristics
What feelings does oxytocin elicit?
Contentment and calmness
What sex is oxytocin associated with?
Females
What are the 4 AO3 points for the role of chromosomes and hormones in gender development?
1) Case study support from David Reimer
2) RWA - intersex conditions
3) Reductionist
4) Ignores role of cultural + social factors
What sex was David Reimer born as?
Male
What traumatic event happened to David Reimer as a baby?
His penis was destroyed in a surgery
After David Reimer’s penis was destroyed, what did his parents decide?
To have him undergo sex change surgery
What gender was David Reimer raised as?
Female
What occurred during David Reimer’s teenage years?
He transitioned back to a male
What was the norm for intersex babies in the past?
Surgery to make their external genitalia look ‘normal’
What is the norm for intersex babies in the modern world?
To assign them a gender at birth, but not carry out surgery
Why is genetic testing for individuals with Turner syndrome good?
It allows early detection + hormone supplementation
Why is the biological approach to gender reductionist?
It ignores the changing gender roles across cultures + time
Where were the Batista family from?
The Dominican Republic
What do the Batista family contradict?
The role of chromosomes and hormones in gender development
What genitalia were the 4 children of the Batista family born with?
Female external genitalia
What happened to the Batista children at puberty?
The testosterone produced caused male genitalia to develop
What chromosomes did the Batista children have?
XY
Why did the Batista children’s male genitalia not appear at birth?
They had a gene for testosterone insensitivity
How did the Batista children cope with their gender change?
They accepted their new male roles without any difficulty
How does the Batista family case study contradict the role of biology in gender?
Highlights the importance of culture - community with more fluid gender roles make it easier to move between roles
