CH. 4: Gender Identity and Sex Development

sex

distinct biological, anatomical, and genetic differences of femaleness and maleness (forming the sexes in species that reproduce sexually)

gender

cultural, social, behavioral, and psychological characteristics associated with femaleness and maleness

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 the chemical synthesis of all the tissues and proteins and directs the functioning of cells

RNA

involved in the replication of DNA

males

a long chromosome referred as X and a short chromosome referred to as Y

females

have two long X chromosomes

genes

small units of genetic information contained on chromosomes

alleles

variations in a particular gene at a particular location on a chromosome

G x E interaction (gene by environment interaction)

expression of an individual’s genetic potential and predispositions depends in part on the cultural, social, and biological experiences of an individual

autosomes

chromosomes which are not sex chromosomes

mitosis

individual cells make copies of themselves asexually, forms an exact copy of the OG 23 pairs of chromosomes that were inherited, present in all life on earth

gonads

specialized organs involved in process of reproduction, ovaries in females, testes in males

sex hormones

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

gametes

specialized reproductive cells containing half the normal number of chromosomes, egg cells in female, sperm cells in males, produced by gonads

meiosis

chromosome pairs are separated, material from one part of a chromosome is swapped and recombined with material from the other chromosome, forms two uniquely different new chromosomes that end up as single copies in the gametes

sexual reproduction

results in a greatly accelerated potential for evolutionary change, involves shuffling of genes, genetically linked traits may or may not be passed on to one’s children, leads to greater diversity in offspring

pseudoautosomes

regions on X and Y that receive slightly different X or Y sex chromosome than the original XY

conceptus

a fertilized egg, prior to development as an implanted embryo

SRY gene

sex-determining region of the Y chromosome, exclusive genetic determinant of biological maleness. If absent, causes the gonads to develop into ovaries

DSS gene

dosage-sensitive sex reversal region, genetically XY individuals with two copies of the DSS region on the X chromosome develop as females

DAX-1 gene

a specific gene within the DSS region, on the X chromosome. Facilitates the normal development of granulosa cells and ovaries

blastocyst

formed by continuous division of conceptus and develops into an embryo

embryonic stem cells

cells that have the potential to become different types of tissue

ectoderm

skin and nervous system, forms the exoskeleton

mesoderm

muscles, skeleton, and cardiovascular system. Develops into organs

endoderm

digestive system and lungs, forms the inner lining of the organs

phimosis

condition where foreskin interferes with passage of urine in infant males due to them being unable to retract their foreskin

genital tubercle

develops into glans and prepuce (foreskin)

hypospadia

abnormal development of the location of the urethral meatus, in males exiting on the shaft of the penis

larger Onuf’s nucleus in males

an area of neurons in the spinal column that controls some muscles in the pelvic floor

disorders of sex development/differences of sex development (DSDs), formerly referred to as intersex

variations that occur in human sexual development due to genetic anomalies

androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

occurs when a chromosomally XY individual is born with genes having few or no receptor sites for testosterone and DHT. Result is that many aspects of biological sex developing as characteristically female

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

a chromosomally XX individual with genes causing excess androgen production, with many aspects of biological sex developing as males. individuals with this condition are referred to as fetally androgenized females, having adrenogenital syndrome.

DHT deficient males

have a genetic condition that prevents conversion of testosterone to 5a-dihydrotestosterone, have testes but external genitalia are ambiguous, more female at birth, may masculinize at puberty with external genitalia developing into a penis

social learning perspective

learning from social environment causes the behavioral and psychological differences ascribe to the sexes, minimizes the role of biology in explaining gender role differences, investigates the role of family environment, peers, media, and use of language in affecting gender roles

interactional model

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

evolutionary psychology

focuses on cognitive mechanisms and processes that evolved through natural and/or sexual selection

biologically reductionist

evolved biological differences are most important in explaining gender differences, AKA essentialist perspective

androgyny

exhibiting gendered traits that are typical of both sexes

gender role nonconforming

showing traits primarily associated with the other sex

2D:4D ratio

measure the length of the index finger and divide it by the length of the ring finger, believed by some to have been influence by prenatal exposure to sex hormones. lower the ratio = greater exposure to androgens, higher the correlation for that individual person to exhibit male sex-typical gender role behavior. correlated with sexual orientation

traditional interpretations

clear distinctions between male and female behavior in both personal and religious practice, encourage conformity

liberal interpretation

have traditions with more equal gender roles

two-spirit person

individuals who do not conform to those clear gender roles

third sex or third gender

differ in gender identity, gendered behavior, and/or sexual orientation

transgender

people whose gender identity differs from their genetic and anatomical sex, may express their gender in early childhood. Likely explanation: sexual differentiation of the brain occurs in a direction different from anatomical sex

gender dysphoria

incongruence between gender identity and sex assigned or assumed at birth, formerly known as gender identity disorder in DSM-IV-TR

gender-affirming surgery

anatomical sexual characteristics such as breasts and genitalia are altered to be congruent with the person’s gender identity, previously referred to as sexual reassignment surgery (SRS)

transitioning

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

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

real-life experience

period of six months to two years, during which trans individuals seeking gender-affirming sx are required to live expressing gendered behaviors typical of their gender identity

vaginoplasty

constructing both a vagina and vulva

phalloplasty

constructing penis

metoidioplasty

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