Gender Identity and Sex Development

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to gender identity and sex development.

Sex

Distinct biological, anatomical, and genetic differences of femaleness and maleness in sexually reproducing species.

Gender

Cultural, social, behavioral, and psychological characteristics associated with femaleness and maleness.

Gender Differences

Statistically measurable average difference between females and males, manifested in attitudes and behavior.

Gender Roles

Describes what a particular culture at a particular time considers desirable behavior for each sex.

Gender role conformity

Extent to which an individual’s gendered behavior and identity aligns with the expectations of one’s culture.

Gender identity

A person’s own sense of femaleness or maleness.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

Located in the nucleus of each cell; drives chemical synthesis of tissues and proteins and directs the functioning of cells.

Alleles

Variations in a particular gene at a particular location on a chromosome.

Autosomes

Chromosomes which are not sex chromosomes; 22 pairs are present in humans.

Gonads

Specialized organs involved in the process of reproduction: ovaries in females and testes in males.

Sex hormones

Signaling chemicals produced by gonads that affect behavior in adults and the development of tissue in fetuses and during puberty.

Gametes

Specialized reproductive cells containing half the normal number of chromosomes: egg cells in females and sperm cells in males.

Sexual reproduction

Results in a greatly accelerated potential for evolutionary change, involves shuffling of genes, and leads to greater diversity in offspring.

Sexual Differentiation

Biological differences between the sexes in structure and organization at the level of tissues, known as sexual dimorphism.

SRY gene

Sex-determining region of the Y chromosome; exclusive genetic determinant of biological maleness.

DAX-1 gene

Gene within the DSS region on the X chromosome; facilitates the normal development of granulosa cells and ovaries.

Embryonic stem cells

Cells that have the potential to become different types of tissue.

Disorders of sex development / differences of sex development (DSDs)

Variations that occur in human sexual development due to genetic anomalies.

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

Condition where chromosomally XY individuals are born with genes having few or no receptor sites for testosterone and DHT, resulting in many aspects of biological sex developing as characteristically female.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

XX individuals with genes causing excess androgen production, with aspects of biological sex developing as males.

Social learning perspective

learning from social environment causes the behavioral and psychological differences ascribed to the sexes

Interactional model

both biology and social environment cause the behavioral and psychological differences ascribed to the sexes.

Biologically reductionist

evolved biological differences are most important in explaining gender differences

Androgyny

exhibiting gendered traits that are typical of both sexes.

Gender role nonconforming

showing traits primarily associated with the other sex.

Transgender

People whose gender identity differs from their genetic and anatomical sex.

Gender Dysphoria

incongruence between gender identity and sex assigned or assumed at birth.

Transitioning

the process for transgender people of making aspects of outward sex align with their gender identity

Transman

gender identity is male but was assigned female at birth.

Transwoman

gender identity is female but was assigned male at birth.

Cis (cisgender)

nontransgender person whose gender identity aligns with gender assigned at birth.

Genderqueer

indicates a variety of identities other than a rigid female-male binary.

Autogynephilic

being erotically aroused at the idea of becoming a woman.

Vaginoplasty

constructing both a vagina and a vulva

Phalloplasty

constructing penis

Metoidioplasty

involves construction of a scrotum and testicular implants, with hormones used to enlarges clitoris into small penis

Transphobia

bias or prejudice against trans or transgender persons.