Week 1: Introducing Sex and Gender Flashcards
Sex
Biological categories of people based on whether they are male, female or outside the binary.
Gender
Broad sets of identities based on traits, identities, roles, stereotypes, role, tendencies and socialization practices commonly associated with sex.
Sex and Gender Binaries
Classifies gender into two distinct, nonoverlapping categories (male and female). Based on gender essentialism.
Gender Essentialism
Theory that attributes specific qualities and characteristics to women and men. Claims gender differences are rooted in nature and biology.
ex. Like men should hunt and women should stay at home.
Critiques of Sex and Gender Binaries
Oversimplifies the complexity of the natural world. Excludes intersexuality.
Gender Identity
Individual’s psychological experience of gender.
Sex-Gender Correspondence
Alignment between gender identity and sex.
Gender Expression
How individuals express themselves outwardly.
Gender Roles
Social roles associated with different gender categories.
Gender Traits
Individual’s personality characteristics.
Gender Norms
Beliefs about proper roles based on sex.
Gender Stereotypes
Attributes associated with members of different sexes.
Gender Performativity
When gender is something “done” in front of an audience.
Gender Relativism
How gender changes based on context.
ex. Like how gender roles changes based on culture and time period.
Gender Trouble
Misalignment between character (gender role & identity) , costume (physical attributes) and script (behaviours).
Masculinity and Femininity
Physical and psychological attributes typically attributed to men and women.
Researchers have been saying to use the plural (masculinities and femininities) to advocate for the may gender expressions.
Physical Androgyny
The presence of both feminine and masculine traits.
Counters the gender binary.
Gender Identities
Cisgender, transgender, agender, gender fluid
Cisgender
Match between assigned sex and gender identity.
Transgender
Mismatch between assigned sex and gender identity.
Agender
No association with a gender category, ungendered.
Gender Fluid
Shift in gender identities over time, also situation dependent.
Transsexual
Individuals who believe they were born with the body of another gender. Receive gender-affirming surgery or other medical interventions.
Offensive term!
Why is transsexual an offensive term.
Considered exclusionary as it excludes transgender individuals who did not seek medical transition.
Also historically used to stigmatize transgender people as mentally ill or sexually deviant.
Use the term transgender.
Male-to-Female (MTF) transgender, or trans woman.
Assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman.
Female-to-Male (FTM) transgender or trans male.
Assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man.
Intersectionality Theory
Examines how people’s lived experiences differ or are similar based on privilege and marginalization. Related to their location across demographic categories.
How do psychologists develop an intersectional approach.
- Ask who is included and excluded in the social categories being examined.
- Consider the role of structural inequalities shaping a participant’s experiences.
- Look for comparisons between participants regardless of identity differences.
Two-spirit persons in Indigenous communities in Canada
Has an expanded and spiritual view of the world, able to see through the eyes of both sexes.
Morrison et al., 2019.
Hijras in India
Separate caste living as neither men or women, sacred in Hinduism.
Sworn virgins in the Northern Balkans
Biological females living as men unable to marry.
Mustergil in Iraq
Women living as men, but can return to female gender role for marriage.
Lang and Kuhnle, 2008
Sexual Orientation
Tendency to develop romantic and sexual attractions based on sex.
Relationship between gender roles and sexual orientation (Kowalski and Scheitle, 2019)
Lesbian women are less likely to endorse tradisional gender role attitudes in both traditional and private spheres.
But gay men are less likely to endorse traditional gender role attitudes in only private spheres.
Women’s Movements and Waves of Feminism: Mid-19th to early 20th century
Equal treatment of women and men under the law, economic and voting rights for women.
Women’s Movements and Waves of Feminism: 1960s - 1980s
Expanded focus to issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, pay equity, reproductive rights and women inclusion in studies.
Women’s Movements and Waves of Feminism: 1990s
Intersectional and global perspectives of sex and gender taking priority.
Race, class, sexual orientation and gender identity viewed as core issues.
Women’s Movements and Waves of Feminism: 2008 - present
Fueled by social media, #MeToo movement, justice of survivors, education on pronoun usage.
Contemporary Definition of Feminism
bell Hooks (2000) critiques the definition of feminism being equality being sexes, and defines it as the movement to end sexism.
This definition address systems of power and oppression rather than an individual man and woman.
How can feminism be “healthy” in their current forms?
Viability: Needs supports with an emphasis on third wave feminism.
Relevant: Inclusion of transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Men’s Movement
Some men’s movements aim to reclaim men’s power and traditional gender roles.
Other men’s movements promote feminism, LGBTQ inclusiveness, father’s right, spirituality and other forms of masculinity.
Gay Rights Movement: 1957
Research showed no differences between heterosexual and gay male participants.
Gay Rights Movement: 1973
APA removed homosexuality as a psychological disorder in the DSM-II.
Gay Rights Movement: 1985
Psychological researchers started studying sexual minority issues.
Gay Rights Movement: 1996
The Canadian Human Rights Act added “sexual orientation” as ground for discrimination.
Gay Rights Movement: 2005
Same-sex marriage legalized in Canada.
Gay Rights Movement: 2012
APA developed official guidelines for psychologists’ practice with LGB clients.
Gay Rights Movement: 2015
Same-sex marriage legalized in the US.
The Transgender Movement: 1993
Minnesota passed the first anti-discrimination law of transgender individuals.
The Transgender Movement: 2008 - 2009
APA approved resolution on transgender non-discrimination.
First transgender march took place in Toronto Pride.
The Transgender Movement: 2013
APA replaced diagnosis of gender identity disorder with gender dysphoria.
The Transgender Movement: 2016
18 states and DC had anti-discrimination laws for transgender people.
The Transgender Movement: 2017
Gender identity and gender expression are added as protected. grounds to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
The Transgender Movement: 2021
Canada is the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people.
Nonbinary (genderqueer)
People who fall outside of the gender and sex binary, umbrella term for many identities.
Latinx
Gender-inclusive term to describe those of Latin American descent.
Is androgyny good for health?
A study of youth examined androgyny in youth and quality of life. Androgyny correlated positively with young girls, but for young boys a higher amount of male-typical traits over female-typical traits correlated positively. (S. M. Scott et al., 2015)
Klinefelter Syndrome
Intersex condition where an individual’s chromosomes are XXY instead of the regular XX or XY.
In western cultures they are typically assigned male at birth.
Turner Syndrome
Intersex condition where an individual’s chromosomes are XYY instead of the regular XX or XY.
In western cultures they are typically assigned female at birth.
Genital Reconstructive Surgery
Surgery that alters the appearance, function or location of genital tissue.
Usually sought out by transgender individuals.
Privilege
Automatic, unearned advantage in certain social groups.
The more dominant and privileged (white and cisgender) the group, the less they tend to notice the influences of sex and gender.
Dominant Groups
Groups that have more access to education, leadership positions and resources.
Allows them to shape norms and laws that govern society.
Face more representation (media, art, etc.
Subordinate Groups
Groups that have less access to opportunities and resources.
Face less representation, more invisible.
Patriarchal
Societal structure in which men/fathers occupy leadership positions and decide how society operates.
Matriarchal
Societal structure in which women/mothers occupy leadership positions and decide how society operates.
Matrilineal
Passing property from women to daughters.
Doesn’t automatically make the society matriarchal though as men could still hold political power.
Equality
Treating everyone the same regardless of background and differences.
Equity
Treating everyone fairly taking background and differences into account.
Third-Wave Feminism
Feminism that takes race, class, sexual orientation and gender identity into account.
Reproductive Justice
Human right to personal bodily autonomy, parenthood choices, and safe communities to raise children in.
