Ch. 10: Sexuality and Gender

Gender

The psychological, behavioral, social, and cultural aspects of being male, female, or neither (nonbinary); gender is no longer considered a binary, or either/or concept, and may include some combination or along a continuum of these aspects

Gender roles

A culture’s expectations of behavior, attitudes, actions, and personality traits associated with gender in that culture

Gender typing

The process of acquiring gender-role characteristics

Gender identity

An individual’s sense of gender, that may or may not be consistent with an individual’s s*x assigned at birth of their primary or secondary s*x characteristics

Transgender

Relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not necessarily correspond with their external appearance, s*x assigned at birth, or sex chromosomes

Gender schema theory

Theory of gender identity acquisition in which a child develops a mental pattern or framework, or schema, around gender and then organizes observed and learned behavior around that schema

Stereotype

A set of characteristics that people believe is shared by all members of a particular social category; a concept held about a person or group of people that is based on superficial, irrelevant characteristics

S*x and gender stereotypes

Concepts held about a person or group of people based on their assumed s*x or assumed gender

S*xism

Prejudice about males or females leading to unequal treatment

Benevolent s*xism

Acceptance of positive stereotypes of males and females that leads to unequal treatment

Hostile s*xism

Negative prejudice toward and unequal treatment of females who challenge traditional s*x and gender roles and relationships

Androgyny

Characteristic of possessing the most positive personality, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics of men and women regardless of s*x

Orgasm

A series of rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the vaginal walls or the penis, also the third and shortest phase of s*xual response

Semen

Fluid released from the penis at orgasm that contains the sperm

Resolution

The final phase of the s*xual response in which the body is returned to a normal state

Refractory period

Time period in males just after orgasm in which the male cannot become aroused to another orgasm

S*xual orientation

A person’s s*xual attractoin and affection for members of another s*x, the same s*x, some combination, or, in some cases, a lack of desire for or interest in s*x

Heterosexual

Sexual attraction toward, or sexual activity with, members of another s*x; straight

Gay

Sexual attraction toward, or sexual activity with, members of the same *x; lesbian is often a preferred term for a gay woman

Bisexual

Sexual attraction toward, or sexual activity with, people of more than one gender

Asexual

Lack of sexual attraction toward or lack of interest in pursuing sexual activity with others

Pansexual

Sexually or romantically attracted to people regardless of their s*x or gender

Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

An infection spread primarily through sexual contact

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Sexually transmitted viral disorder that causes deterioration of the immune system and eventually results in death due to complicating infections that the body can no longer fight