Lecture Overview Sex and Gender Transvestism & transexuality Sexual Orientation: How is it formed? ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Sex & Gender: Important/Confusing Terms Sex: biological maleness or femaleness including chromosomal sex Gender: psychological & sociocultural meanings added to biological sex ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Let’s start with Sex: Genetics. X from mother, Y from father Mullerian ducts = female ; Wollfian ducts= male SRY gene (sex determining region) on Y chromosome ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Dimensions of Sex & Gender Sex Dimensions Male Female 1. Chromosomes 2. Gonads 3. Hormones 4. External genitals Internal accessory organs XY XX Testes Ovaries Androgens Estrogens,Progesterone Penis, scrotum Labia, clitoris, vaginal opening Prostate, seminal Vagina, uterus, vesicles, fallopian tubes, vas deferens cervix ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Early circulating hormones affect the hypothalamus Prenatal hormones--affect fetal brain development Do they affect sexual orientation? Do early circulating hormones affect gender identity? (Testosterone aromatizes to Estrogen) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Gender Dimensions Gender identity (self-defined) : Am I a boy or a girl? Gender role ( socially-defined): How shall I behave? ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Gender Identity Formation Gender Identity: self-identification as being either a man or a woman ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Gender Role Development Gender Role: societal expectations for “appropriate” male & female behavior ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Gender development? Gender labels: Recognize difference between boys and girls ( around 30 months of age) Gender stability: I am a girl and will remain a girl (around 5) Gender constancy: Gender is consistent across all situations ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Two Theories of Gender Role Development Social-learning theory of gender role development: suggests gender roles develop as children: receive rewards &/or punishments for gender role behaviors & attitudes observe & imitate the behaviors & attitudes of others ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Two Theories of Gender Role Development Gender Schema Theory: combines social learning & cognitive processing; children form gender schemas (mental blueprints) of “correct” behaviors for boys vs. girls ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Theories of Gender Role Development ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Transsexual: mismatch between gender identity& gonads, genitals, or internal accessory organs Transvestite: individuals who cross-dress for emotional &/or sexual gratification; from Latintrans, meaning “to change,” & vestire, meaning “clothing” ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Sex & Gender: Sexual Orientation: primary erotic attraction toward members of same sex (homosexual, gay, or lesbian), both sexes (bisexual), or other sex (heterosexual) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Biology, gender, sexual orientation Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in girls ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Biology, gender, sexual orientation (cont.) Guevedoce in Dominican Republic AIS (androgen insensitive syndrome) ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Amazing case of David Reimer Money and Ehrhardt, Johns Hopkins Hospital David ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Male External Sex Organs ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Sex Differences Physical anatomy: height, weight, body build, reproductive organs Functional & structural brain differences: hypothalamus corpus callosum cerebral hemispheres ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Gender Differences Cognitive abilities Women score slightly higher on verbal skills. Men score slightly higher on math & visuospatial skills. Aggression Men exhibit greater physical aggressiveness. Women supposedly higher on relational aggression, but no clear differences. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Sex & Gender: Important/Confusing Terms (Cont.) Androgyny: combining characteristics typically male (assertive, athletic) with those considered typically female (yielding, nurturing); from Greek andro, meaning “male,” & gyn, meaning “female” ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Sexual Behavior: Sexual Orientation Myths of Homosexuality: Seduction theory--gays & lesbians seduced in childhood by adults of same sex “By default” theory--gays & lesbians unable to attract partners of opposite sex Poor parenting theory--gay men = domineering mothers, weak fathers; lesbian women = weak or absent mothers Modeling theory--children imitate gay or lesbian parents ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Biological basis of homosexuality Childhood gender nonconformity Michael Bailey twin studies Simon LeVay and the INAH3 2D :4D ratio ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

Yet the environment is important Bem: traits are inborn and then get labeled and reinforced ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010

The Study of Human Sexuality Alfred Kinsey--among the first to use surveys & interviews to study sexual practices & beliefs. Masters & Johnson-- early scientists who used experimentation & direct observation to study the sexual response cycle. ©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010