1. Module 14
Gender Development
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2. Gender Development
14-1: HOW DOES THE MEANING OF GENDER DIFFER FROM THE MEANING OF SEX?
Sex
In psychology, the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define males and females
Gender
In psychology, the socially influenced characteristics by which people define men and women
Our gender is the product of the interplay among our biological dispositions, our developmental experiences, and our current situations.
Some traits may be genetic differences; other role differences may be nurtured by culture.

3. Gender Development How Are We Alike? How Do We Differ?
14-2: WHAT ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH MALES AND FEMALES TEND TO BE ALIKE AND TO DIFFER?
Differences on average
Men are 4 times more likely to die by suicide or to develop alcohol use disorder.
Men are more likely to have childhood diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, color- deficient vision, or ADHD.
Men are more at risk for antisocial personality disorder.
Differences on average
Women enter puberty sooner and live about 5 years longer.
Women express emotions freely.
Women have twice the risk of developing depression and 10 times the risk of developing an eating disorder.
23 chromosomes from our mother and 23 from our father; of these 46 chromosomes, 45 are shared by men and women
Similarities
Creativity, intelligence, emotions
Our “opposite” sex is, in reality, our very similar sex

4. Gender Development How Are We Alike? How Do We Differ?
Aggression
Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally
Relational aggression
An act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person’s relationship or social standing

5. Gender Development How Are We Alike? How Do We Differ?
Aggression
Minor physical aggression in romantic relationships: Men and women are roughly equal
Extreme violent acts: Men commit far more often than women
Relational aggression: Women commit slightly more often than men

6. Gender Development How Are We Alike? How Do We Differ?
Social Power
Group leadership: More likely assigned to males
Salaries: Higher salaries paid in traditionally male occupations
Elections: Women less successful than men
World governing bodies: 78 percent of seats held by males in 2015
Interaction style: Men more often offer opinions; women more often offer support
Everyday behavior: Men tend talk assertively, interrupt, initiate touches, and stare, while also tending to smile and apologize less than women

7. Gender Development How Are We Alike? How Do We Differ?
Social Connectedness
Boys and men are often independent; girls and women are often interdependent
Men tend to connect perception with action; women tend to improve social relationships
Men often prefer working with things; women often prefer working with people
Men more often driven by money and status; women often opt for fewer work hours and tend to have greater responsibility for family obligations
Women more often support others; they “tend and befriend”
Gender gap subsides by age 50

8. The Nature of Gender: Our Biological Sex
14-3: HOW DO SEX HORMONES INFLUENCE PRENATAL AND ADOLESCENT SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WHAT IS A DISORDER OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT?
Biology does not dictate gender, but it can influence it in two ways:
Genetic—males and females have differing sex chromosomes.
Physiologically—males and females have differing concentrations of sex hormones, which trigger other anatomical differences.

9. The Nature of Gender: Our Biological Sex Prenatal Sexual Development
Contribution to 23rd chromosome pair: Mother = X chromosome; father = X or Y chromosome
Around 7th week: Y chromosome prompts testes to develop and produce testosterone
Between 4th and 5th month: Sex hormones in fetal brain support female or male wiring

10. The Nature of Gender: Our Biological Sex Prenatal Sexual Development
X chromosome
Sex chromosome found in both men and women
Y chromosome
Sex chromosome found only in males
Testosterone
Both males and females have it, but females have less.
The additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.
Females have two X chromosomes; males have one X and one Y . An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.
When Y is paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

11. The Nature of Gender: Our Biological Sex Adolescent Sexual Development
During adolescence, boys and girls enter puberty and mature sexually
Puberty: Period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
Pronounced physical differences emerge
Surge of hormones triggers a two-year period of rapid physical development
Primary and secondary sex characteristics develop dramatically

12. The Nature of Gender: Our Biological Sex Adolescent Sexual Development
Primary sex characteristics
Body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible
Secondary sex characteristics
Nonreproductive sexual traits, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair
Spermarche
First ejaculation
Menarche
First menstrual period

13. HEIGHT DIFFERENCES
Throughout childhood, boys and girls are similar in height.
At puberty, girls surge ahead briefly, but then boys overtake them at about age 14. (Data from Tanner, 1978.)
Studies suggest that sexual development and growth spurts are beginning somewhat earlier than was the case a half- century ago. (Herman- Giddens et al., 2001).
Figure 13.5

14. BODY CHANGES AT PUBERTY
At about age 11 in girls and age 12 in boys, a surge of hormones triggers a variety of physical changes.
At about age 11 in girls and age 12 in boys, a surge of hormones triggers a variety of physical changes.

15. The Nature of Gender: Our Biological Sex Sexual Development Variations
I AM WHO I AM
Disorder of sexual development: a condition present at birth that involves unusual development of sex chromosomes and anatomy
Sex reassignment surgery: More common in the past; can create distress
Dramatic improvements in South African track star Caster Semenya’s race times prompted the International Association of Athletics Federations to undertake sex testing in 2009.
Semenya was reported to have a disorder of sexual development, with physical characteristics not typically male or female . She was officially cleared to continue competing as a woman. Semenya declared, “God made me the way I am and I accept myself. I am who I am” (YOU, 2009).
Sex-related genes and physiology “result in behavioral and cognitive differences between males and females” (NAS, 2001).Yes environmental factors matter as well.

16. The Nurture of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences
14-4: HOW DO GENDER ROLES AND GENDER IDENTITY DIFFER?
Gender role
Gender identity
A role is a set of expectations (norms) about a social position
A gender role is set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for males or for females
Our gender identity is our personal sense of being male, female, or some combination of the two

17. The Nurture of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences
Gender roles shift over time in history
A century ago, American women could not vote in national elections, serve in the military, or divorce a husband without cause
Gender roles also vary from one place to another
Nomadic societies of food-gathering people have little division of labor by sex
Agricultural societies, where women typically work in the nearby fields and men roam while herding livestock, assume more distinct gender roles

18. The Nurture of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences How Do We Learn Gender?
How do we learn our gender identity, our personal sense of being male, female, or, occasionally, some combination of the two?
Social learning theory: Proposes social behavior is learned by observing and imitating others’ gender-linked behavior and by being rewarded or punished.
Gender typing: The acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role. It varies from child to child, which indicates there’s more to gender typing than solely observation and imitation.

19. The Nurture of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences How Do We Learn Gender?
Learning to be male or female involves feeling AND thinking.
Formation of schemas helps children make sense of our world
Gender schemas form early in life and organize experiences of male-female characteristics
Gender expression can be seen as children drop hints in their language, clothing, interests and possessions

20. The Nurture of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences How Do We Learn Gender?
Androgyny
Displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics
Transgender
Umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex

21. The Nurture of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences How Do We Learn Gender?
Olympic decathlon champion and reality TV star Bruce Jenner became the world’s most famous transgender person and an Internet sensation after transitioning to Caitlyn Jenner.