Unit 1: Sex And Gender COMPLETE Flashcards
When is sex determined?
At conception when a sperm fertilises and egg
What does sex mean
It is a biological term that tells us whether someone is male or female.
What does gender mean ?
How a person behaves or thinks they can be feminine masculine or androgynous
What is androgyny ?
Someone who has both masculine and feminine behaviours and traits . They are said to be psychologically more healthy.
Core theory: biological approach , what do they believe?
That gender is decided at conception
XX chromosomes =
Female
XY chromosomes
Male as men wear y fronts hence the y
What does a baby look like around 5-6 weeks of a pregnancy
Nothing . Male and female foetuses look the same and the gonads are the same too.
What happens at 6 weeks?
The chromosomes take effects on the gonads . The y one turns on a hormone and the gonads develop into testes . Without this the gonads will automatically develop into ovaries
What does testosterone do?
More aggressive and superior maths and spatial awareness skills
What does oestrogen do?
More sensitivity. Superior verbal skills
Is the biological approach based on instinct ?
Yes
Who are coyer?
Females as they only have 400 egg so are choosier with who they mate with
How has evolution affected females?
They are more caring and sensitive since they have to Cary and raise and feed the young
Core theory criticism one
It ignores the idea that gender roles may be learnt
Some families may socialise the genders differently
Eg a girl my get rewarded for being ladylike but punished for behaving like a boy or vice versa
core thoery criticism two
If men and women are biologically similar why do the sexes show such a range of behaviours .
Tow men can have similar levels of testosterone but one can be masculine and one feminine.
Criticism 3 of the biological approach
Biology is fixed yet gender roles can change
Alternative: the psychodynamic approach
Oedipus complex for boys
Electra complex for girls
core theory criticism three expanded
Biology is fixed but gender roles can change
This is due to socialisation and time
People Are more androgynous that before even biology hasn’t changes
It is the same with different cultures the women will fight whilst the men stay at home and socialise.
Oedipus complex explained
Boys Strong attachment to mother Fear the father finding out Afraid/anxious he will castrate him Boy identifies with father Her develops masculine behaviours
Electra complex explained in steps
Girls Strong attachment to father They desire do have a penis like his Blame mother for already castrating her They desire a baby as substitute Identity with mother to get feminine behaviour
Core study=
Diamond and sigmundson
Diamond and sigmundson aim
To show that a child cannot be socialised to take on the role of the opposite sex
Diamond and sigmundson procedure
Researched the case of a boy raised as a girl
The boy was one of twins born in Canada
At 8 months they went in for a routine circumcision . Bruce has an accident and his penis was burnt off
A psychologist named dr money recommended for raise Bruce as a girl.
At 17 months his testes were removed and renamed Brenda
Diamond and sigmundson results
at puberty brenda was given hormeones but she stil lokked manly. she found girls attractive and felt like a man too. she was told the truth at 13 yrs and ecided to become a man have a penis reconstructed and get married
Diamon and sigmundson Core study conclusion
the effect of davids chromosomes outweighed any attempt to socialise him as a girl
applications
equal oppurtunities of school and work
