Psychology of Women Chapter 4

Sex/gender binary

Suggests that people fall into one of two sex categories, woman or man, that is associated with gender identities based on one’s sex assigned at birth

Example of a sex/gender binary

The movie The Color Purple - Black women are depicted in traditional gender roles, such as being responsible for taking care of the children and cleaning the home

Sex

A person’s biological status and is typically characterized as female, male, or intersex

Gender

The attitudes, behaviors, and feelings a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex

Gender normative

Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations of one’s gender

Gender nonconformity

Behaviors are viewed as incompatible with gendered cultural expectations

Gender expression

An individual’s presentation, which includes their physical appearance, tone, clothing choices and accessories, and behaviors that illustrate aspects of gender or a gender role

Gender identity

One’s sense of oneself as girl, woman, female, boy, man, male, a blend of both man and woman or an alternative gender

Sexual orientation

A person’s sexual or emotional attraction to another person (whereas gender identity represents a person’s sense of their gender (e.g., who they are))

During toddlerhood

According to research, when do most people develop their gender identity?

True

True or false: Most people develop their gender identity earlier before they develop their sexual orientation

Gender assignment

The classification of an infant at birth as either male or female

True

True or false: Infants who are born with ambiguous genitalia are often assigned a gender by their physicians and parents

Gender dysphoria

Discomfort related to the discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth

Fifth edition of the DSM-5

Who adopted the term gender dysphoria as a diagnosis characterized by “a marked incongruence between” a person’s gender assigned at birth and gender identity, which replaced the diagnosis of gender identity disorder?

Non-binary

Used to describe gender identities that don’t fall into one of the two categories of man or woman

Genderqueer

A person whose gender identity does not align with the gender binary in terms of identifying as a man or woman

Genderfluid

Those who identify as genderqueer may also use terms such as ______________ and may reject identification as transgender

Transgender

An umbrella term used to describe a range of gender identities that reflect when an individual’s gender identity is not consistent with their sex assigned at birth

Heteronormativity

The belief that two opposing genders (male and female) are associated with natural roles of feminity and masculinity, respectively, and that heterosexuality is a given

Bigenderism

The expectation that there are only two distinct genders, woman and man, that correspond with two biological sexes, female and male

Gender performance

The idea that gender is something developed in daily practice, learned and performed, through socialization, based on cultural norms of feminity and masculinity

Toxic masculinity

Traditional and stereotypical norms of masculinity and manhood, such as the idea that boys and men have to be tough cannot express their emotions

Sexual orientation hypothesis

Cross-gender behavior in boys but not girls is considered a sign of actual or potential same-sex sexual orientation

Social status hypothesis

Suggests that because the man gender role is more highly valued than the woman gender role, a man is seen as lowering his social status when he acts feminine, wheres a woman is perceived as raising hers when she is more masculine

Gender role strain (GRS)

Feelings of uncertainity regarding one’s ability to participate in the desired gender roles

Discrepancy strain

Psychological distress associated with failing to meet masculine ideals

Dysfunction strain

Difficulty enacting and maintaining normative masculine expression

Trauma strain

Negative experience with the masculine socialization process

Femme

Often used in same-gender loving communities to denote women who identify as feminine in appearance, behavior, erotic expression, or relationship roles

Gender-blender

Combines specific aspects of femininity and masculinity to create a unique style

Stud

Black women who partnered with women and adopted masculine gender-scripted dress and behaviors

Transamory

Being attracted and seeking out relationships with transgender people

Coming out

A white people term and experience because many Black transgender and nonbinary people cannot afford to do this, since it is not safe, can be costly, and can lead to experiences of violence and murder

Minority stress model

Argues that marginalized communities, such as Black transgender women, are subject to stress due to experiences of isolation and marginalization based on their stigmatized identities and highlights promotive (healthy) factors

Gender affirmation

A social process in which individuals receive support specific to their gender identity and expression

Parental acceptance-rejection (PAR)

Suggests that parents’ acceptance-rejection of their children’s identity or related behaviors shapes aspects of the behaviors of those transitioning or stepping out

Klinefelter syndrome (KS)

Have a Y chromosome, or more extra X chromosomes, a penis, lower levels of testosterone, and are generally assigned M at birth. May identify as M or intersex

Turner’s syndrome (TS)

Female-typical external genitalia, a uterus, no ovaries, assigned F at birth, typically shorter than their peers, and unable to produce estrogen

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Inherited condition, causes the adrenal gland to over-produce androgens, has a uterus and an enlarged clitoris (excess amounts of male hormones like testosterone)

Androgen-insensitivity syndrome

Testosterone is present, have XY chromosomes, no female-typical internal organs, and active testes

Complete androgen-insensitivity syndrome (CAIS)

Individuals appear female and are typically designated a girl at birth

Partial androgen-insensitivity syndrome (PAIS)

Individuals may have ambiguous parts or partially masculine genitalia, and thus may be designated male or female at birth

Intersex

A person born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit the boxes of “female” or “male” bodies, which may or may not appear visibly at birth