Chapter 10 - Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

When we are born we are ___ a sex

assigned

People who feel like their gender aligns with their biological aspects are ___

binary

Feeling like you do not agree with people who feel like their gender aligns with their biological aspects are ___

non-binary

Biological aspects of sex (physical characteristics)

1. Sex chromosomes

2. Sex glands

3. Primary sex characteristics

4. Secondary sex characteristics

Sex chromosomes

determined by genetics, 23 pairs, mother always contributes X and father can contribute either X or Y (50/50) XX, female, XY male

Sex chromosomes (types)

XX and XY

Until __ week both male and females are the same

6th week

At the 6th to 7th week, girls form ___ and males form __

ovaries, testes

Y chromosome carries ___ gene for development of gonads

SRY - sex determining region

Sex glands

release chemicals (hormones) into the bloodstream

Ovaries release more ___, Testes release more ___

estrogens/estradiol, androgens/testostrone

Secondary sex characteristics

not directly related to sexual reproduction (body hair, height, body fat around the hips, and etc.)

Primary sex characteristics

directly related to sexual reproduction, females = menarche/menopause, males = spermache

Differences in Sexual Development (DSD)

caused by variations in sex chromosomes and characteristics, people do not fall into binary of being biologically female or male

Differences in biological aspect is ___

intersex

Cause of intersex…

margining sperm and egg cell do not provide an XX or XY chromosomes

XXY chromosomes

Klinefelter syndrome

one sex chromosome known as “XO”

Turner syndrome

XX chromosomes, physically sexual organ looks like a penis

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

XY chromosomes, physically sexual organ looks like a vagina

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

Masculinity

traits and characteristics associated with being a man

Femininity

traits and characteristics associated with being a woman

Gender

refers to the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of masculinity and femininity

Gender schemas

encourage categorization of gender information (knowledge structures containing info on gender, social expectations, traits, intrests, thoughts, feelings, etc)

Gender stereotypes

common beliefs based on commonalities between genders 

Gender roles

positions, characteristics, and interests considered portraying their normal roles in males and females within a society

Gender role socialization

the idea that we develop culture-specific expectations about gender roles passively

Gender identity

a person’s self understanding of their own gender (influenced by a person’s environment and social learning)

Cognitive Development Theory

as children develop mentally and are opened to info about genders, they think about themselves and others being associated with more than one gender

Three stages of Cognitive Development

1. 2-3 y/o, children create different gender categories by using schemas to determine the difference between boy and girl

2. 4 y/o, children think of themselves and others in a stable way

3. 5-7 y/o, children become aware that their gender identity does not change even if they dress or act a different way

Gender expression

the way people communicate gender through clothes, activities, and languages (more socially and culturally influenced, gender identity is relatively stable)

Cisgender (Cis)

binary, label that conforms to traditional binary categories of sex and gender 

Transgender/Non-binary

someone who’s gender identity doesn’t match their assigned sex at birth (also referred to as genderqueer, agender, Two-Spirited, etc.)

Gender fluid

people who believe that gender identity changes overtime or across situations

Gender dysphoria

psychological disorder characterized by significant distress about the difference in between a person’s assigned gender and their true identity

SOGIECE

Sexual orientation and Gender Identity Expression Exchange Efforts

Sexual orientation

a person’s sexual, emotional, romantic attraction to other people

Heterosexual (straight)

a person is sexually emotionally, and romantically attracted to the opposite sex

Gynophillic

attraction to female genitals

Androphyllic

attraction to male genitals

Homosexual (gay or lesbian)

a person is sexually, emotionally, and romantically attracted to the same sex

Bisexual (ambisexual)

a person is sexually, emotionally, and romantically attracted to both sexes

Pansexual

attraction to variations in sex and gender identities

Asexual

sexual orientation where a person does not experience a sexual attraction but may experience emotional and/or romantic attraction

Gender nonconformity

when a child breaks gender roles and expectations

Conversion therapy

therapy that tried to change people’s sexual orientation to straight by emphasizing immortality and shame

Influences for sexual preferences

Genetic influence, hormone influence, maternal immune system

Fraternal birth order effect

boys with older brothers are more likely to be gay than first-borns

Desire

a person’s psychological experience of wanting to engage in sexual activity

Sexual motivation is influenced by:

1. Biology

2. Environmental/Culture

   1. Individual differences

Masters and Johnson’s Research Proposal (Sexual response cycle)

1. Excitement

2. Plateau

3. Orgasm

   1. Resolution

__ is most important in sexual desire

Androgens

Affirmative Consent

an explicit, informed, and voluntary agreement to participate in a sex act

__ can increase motivation for specific sexual interests

Paraphillias

Paraphillia

an unchanging sexual interest, arousal, and/or behavior associated with an object, type of person, and/or situation not usually associated with sex

Fetishism

a person focuses on nonsexual objects or body parts for sexual arousal

Exhibitionism

exposing one’s naked body to others

Voyeurism

watching others naked and/or engaging in sex

Frotteurism

touching or rubbing against another person

Transvestism

dressing or acting as a person of a different sex, not transgender associated

Michelle is a doctor who has just delivered a newborn. She see's that the baby has a vagina, not a penis, and announces it a girl. Michelle is using the appearance of the baby’s genitals to infer the baby’s —-.

biological sex aspects

Daniel is an adult with XXY chromosomes. He was assigned the sex of male at birth. Yet during puberty his voice never deepened, and he does not have chest or facial hair. He has breasts. Given this information regarding Daniel’s genetics and his ___ sex characteristics, Daniel may have the DSD called ___.

secondary, Klinefelter

Tara and her mother prefer to take baths, whereas her father and brother prefer to take showers. As a result, Tara has mentally categorized baths as “girl things” and showers as “boy things.” This organization of knowledge about what is feminine and what is masculine is part of Tara’s gender ___.

Schemas

One day, Andre, a 4-year old boy, plays dress-up by wearing his sister’s princess gown. Andre’s best friend, Manny is wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Andre looks at Manny’s clothes and quickly takes off the dress to put on jeans and a T-shirt. In this example, Andre is learning about gender roles in his culture through ___.

Gender role socialization

Courtney identifies as male when she puts on rocker clothes, puts her hair in a bun, plugs in her bass guitar, and plays heavy metal songs with the guys in her band. However, she identifies as female when she lets her hair down and wears a dress to her job at a day care center. Based on this information, Courtney is most likely to self-describe as ___.

Non-binary

Derek is sexually attracted to women, and all of his romantic relationships have been with women. He finds some men very attractive, though, and often fantasizes about having sex with these men. Based on this information, Derek’s sexual orientation is best described as ___.

Bisexual

Rachel, an 18-year old woman, has frequent sexual thoughts and desires. In response, she commonly engages in sexual behavior. Rachel’s motivation for sexual activity is most likely influenced by her having ___ levels of androgens and ___ levels of estrogens.

higher;higher