The role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender

Question 1

Role of chromosomes:

Answer 1

• determine the sex of a baby,
• XX for female, XY for male
• Produces oestrogen in females, and SRY gene in males triggers creation of testes and inhibits female anatomical structures

Question 2

define Intersex:

Answer 2

individual who isn’t distinctly male or female due to mismatch between chromosomes and genitalia

Question 3

Testosterone

Answer 3

• Produces secondary sexual characteristics in males during puberty
• Research shows mothers w/ higher testosterone, have daughters who are more ‘tomboyish’ in their behaviour
• Some XY individuals may not respond to testosterone thus not develop external genitalia - testosterone insensitivity

Question 4

Oestrogen

Answer 4

• Not needed prenatally as female automatically develops w/o surge of testosterone
• Most relevant at puberty- breast development and menstrual cycle
• Can affect brain size

Question 5

Oxytocin

Answer 5

• Present in males and females
• ‘Love hormone’ that helps us form bonds, and feel love and trust that overcomes anxiety and stress
• Significant in females and helps w/ childbirth and production of breast milk

Question 6

chromosomal atypical patterns

Answer 6

causes differences in sex
- e.g. Klinefelter’s and Turner’s syndrome

Question 7

klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 7

occurs in males, born with an extra X chromosomes, XXY

Question 8

physical characteristics of klinefelters syndrome

Answer 8

taller less muscular body, longer legs, fatty tissue around breasts, wider hips, smaller penis and testicles, delay in puberty and secondary characteristics

Question 9

psychological characteristics of klinefelters syndrome

Answer 9

poor developed language and reading, struggle to manage stress, problem solve, etc

Question 10

Turner’s syndrome

Answer 10

females born without an X chromosome, X instead of XX

Question 11

physical characteristics of turners syndrome

Answer 11

short stature, webbed neck, minimal breast development, possible infertility

Question 12

psychological characteristics of turner’s syndrome

Answer 12

higher than normal reading ability, poor spatial, maths, and visual memory skills, social immaturity

Question 13

A03 research support PEELS

Answer 13

biological determinism
- e.g. David Reimer unhappy as female, went back to male
- suggests bio factors do play a key role & contradicts claims that gender is a completely social construct

Role of social and cultural influences
- e.g. Batista family & community accepted new gender without any difficulty
- cultural expectations make it easier to be more gender fluid

Question 14

discussion point

Answer 14

Individual differences
- CAH females assigned male at birth, some accept this , some don’t
- gender development dependent on experience, personality and socialisation