1. Chapter 4: Gender In Today’s Society

2. The Biological Foundation of Gender
Sex – refers to biological traits that distinguish males and females
Internal and external reproductive anatomy
Chromosomes
Hormones
Gender – refers to the social traits that distinguish males and females

3. Aspects of Gender
Gender role – behaviors, attitudes, beliefs and values appropriate for males and females
Gender Identity – how an individual adapts to expected gender roles
Gender presentation – how an individual presents his or her gender identity
Gender stereotypes – cultural beliefs about gender roles and how they should be enacted

4. Primary Sex Characteristics
An individual’s sex is determined when the sperm and egg unite
XX sex chromosome – female
XY sex chromosome – male
Cell duplication and cell division – occur within a few hours of the formation of the zygote

5. Primary Sex Characteristics
Cell differentiation
Zygote is divided into 8 cells
genetically determined traits and forms begin to develop

6. Figure 4.1: Sex Differentiation of Males and Females

7. The Reproductive System
Male
when a Y chromosome is present, gonadal tissue begins to form the testes
Testes begin to produce androgens, the masculinizing sex hormones
Reproductive organs begin to develop
Seminal vesicles, vas deferens, testes
Penis and scrotum

8. The Reproductive System
Female
Y chromosome is not present, no testosterone is produced
Absence of testosterone produces a female
Female genitalia begin to appear by third month of pregnancy

9. When Nature Goes Amiss Inter-sexed person
Someone who is somewhere between male and female
Basis for this is always genetic
May have both male and female genitalia
Genitalia is ambiguous

10. When Nature Goes Amiss True Hermaphrodite Extremely rare occurrence
May be born with both ovarian and testicular tissue or a combination
Female pseudo-hermaphrodite
XX chromosomal structure
Female internal reproductive organs
External genitalia is masculinized

11. When Nature Goes Amiss Male pseudo-hermaphrodites
XY chromosomal structure
Have testes but they are not descended
Has the appearance of being female
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
Abnormal X chromosome
No androgens present
Sexual anatomy is female
When person reaches puberty, does not menstruate

12. When Nature Goes Amiss Turner’s Syndrome One X chromosome is absent
Affects female only
Short in stature
Estrogen replacement helps promote development of secondary sex characteristics

13. When Nature Goes Amiss Klinefelter’s Syndrome
XXY chromosomal arrangement
Reproductive organs and genitalia develop normally
Testes do not produce sperm
Round body type, taller than relatives, little or no facial hair

14. Gender Socialization Gender
the social differences between males and females
Culturally determined
Informs us of appropriate and inappropriate behavior for males and females

15. Figure 4.2: Yin-Yang of relationships

16. Gender Socialization Gender roles
Behaviors, feelings, attributes and traits that society expects of males and females
Gender stereotypes
Societal assumptions about male and female roles, capabilities and limitations

17. Gender schemas
Schema
A mental representation or set of symbols we hold about something
Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BMSI)
Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ)
measure instrumental and expressive schemas
useful in examining the differences in behaviors of men and women

18. Instrumental Schema Traits associated with masculinity
Acting as a leader
Aggression
Ambition
Assertiveness
Competitiveness
Dominance
Possesses leadership abilities
Independence
Self-reliance
Willingness to take risks

19. Expressive Schema Tasks associated with femininity Affection
Compassion
Gentle
Loyal
Understanding
Sensitive
Sympathetic

20. Table 4.2: Instrumental and expressive Schemas

21. Androgyny Something that has neither gender value
A person that possesses traits, behaviors, or characteristics that are associated with the opposite gender

22. Types of Androgyny Physiological Androgyny
Deals with physical or biological traits
Behavioral Androgyny
Involves the blending of masculine and feminine traits at the same time
Psychological Androgyny
Involves the individual’s gender identity

23. Gender Identity Our intuitive sense of our maleness or femaleness
Does not refer to sexual orientation
Focus of a person’s erotic desires or fantasies

24. Sexual Preference Heterosexual
Erotic and amorous desires for members of the opposite gender
Homosexual
Erotic and amorous desire for members of the same gender
Bisexual
Attraction to both or either genders
Asexual
No sexual attraction to either gender

25. Characteristics of Gender Identity
Membership knowledge
Understanding that their gender belongs to one group or another
Gender typicality
Degree to which people feel their gender experiences are typical
Gender contentedness
Degree of contentedness with biological gender assignment
Gender conformity
Pressure people feel from their environment to conform
Intergroup Bias
The degree to which people believe their sex is superior to another sex

26. Transgender
Refers to those who feel that their assigned biological identity is false or incomplete
FTM – female to male – born female but see themselves as partly to fully masculine
MTF – male to female – born male but see themselves as partly to fully female
Intersexuals – may accept as natural their mixed gender

27. Transgender and Transsexual
Transgenderist – a person who lives as a gender opposite to their biological sex
Transsexual – a person whose sexual identity is opposite their assignment at birth
Gender reassignment – involves psychological counseling, hormonal supplements and sex reassignment surgery

28. The Paradigms of Socialization
Learning Theory – traits and behaviors are learned
Social Learning Theory – adds the role of observation to the learning process
Cognitive Development Theory – gender identity, gender stability, and gender constancy

29. Figure 4.4: Social Cognitive Filter

30. Equality Under The Law
Sexual harassment is prohibited by the Civil Rights Acts of 1964
Violence against Women and Men
Domestic violence affects both men and women
Women are 5 times more likely to experience violence than men

31. Gender and The Media
Children’s concepts of gender are based on what they see and hear
Media watch – works to change the portrayal of women and treatment of women in primetime television
Gender in Advertising – messages are clearly that women are weak and men are strong