Understanding Gender Identity and Its Influencing Factors

Biological Sex

The physical characteristics (such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive anatomy) that classify individuals as male, female, or intersex at birth.

Gender

A socially constructed concept that encompasses roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with being male, female, or non-binary in a given culture.

Gender Identity

An individual's deeply held sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with their biological sex assigned at birth (e.g., male, female, non-binary, genderfluid).

Gender Roles

The societal expectations and norms regarding behaviors, attitudes, and responsibilities typically associated with masculinity and femininity.

Gender Stereotypes

Oversimplified and widely held beliefs about the characteristics and behaviors expected of individuals based on their perceived gender.

Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)

This area of the brain may be related to the early presence of testosterone in utero.

Biological Factors Research

Neuroimaging study, adult participants showed these patterns: Men had almost 2x as much neurons in the BNST than women.

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

Biological male (i.e.: XY chromosomes) with female genitalia.

Evolutionary Factors on Gender

Gender is the product of adaptive behavioral responses to reproductive problems: Females: reproductive window is smaller; Males: competition for mates is high.

Psychological Factors of Gender

Parents and other caretakers treat young children differently when they know the sex of the child, which can create a gender self-fulfilling prophecy.

Socialization theory

Boys and girls are reinforced for being masculine or feminine.

Social learning theory

Children use models of behavior, watching others as a guide for behavior.

Social Learning Theory Research

In survey of parents and school aged children, asked about household roles.

Sociocultural Factors of Gender

Society's division of labor drives gender differences, i.e.: certain roles are made more available to males or females.

Cisgender

Gender identity and expression are consistent with sex at birth.

Transgender

Gender identity or expression that differs from social expectations for a given sex.

Genderqueer

Umbrella term of gender diversity for many gender non-conforming or non-binary identities.

The Gender Minority Stress and Resiliency Model (GMSR)

Sources of stress: both proximal and distal.

Most common mental health outcomes

Depression, Anxiety, Substance abuse, Suicidal ideation.

Where does resilience come in?

Pride and Community.