Gender & Society (ME)

Adrenal Gland

Gland that produces some testosterone in males, even if testes are lost.

Affect

Emotions that play a major role in how humans behave and make decisions.

Affective Primacy Hypothesis

The idea that emotions often come before logical thinking.

Alcohol

A widely used drug that causes relaxation, poor judgment, and slow reactions.

Ally

A straight or heterosexual person who supports LGBTQ rights.

Amenorrhea

Disruption or absence of menstruation.

Amphetamine

A stimulant drug that increases energy and focus, but can lead to addiction.

Anatomy

The study of body structure in relation to body parts.

Androgynous

A person whose gender expression is neither distinctly male nor female.

Androstadienone (AND)

A chemical found in male body fluids, considered a potential pheromone.

Anonymity

Protecting participant information so that the researcher cannot connect responses to identities.

Antiperspirant

A product that stops or dries up perspiration.

Apartheid

A form of racial discrimination where one race is viewed as less than another.

Areola

Pigmented skin surrounding the nipple of the breast.

Asexual

A person who does not experience sexual attraction.

Auto-erotic Behavior

Self-directed sexual stimulation, such as masturbation.

Beneficence

The principle of research that a study should be beneficial and worth implementing.

Birth Control Injection

A contraceptive injection given every 2-3 months to prevent ovulation.

Birth Control Pill

A daily contraceptive pill containing synthetic estrogen to alter the ovulation cycle.

Bisexual

A person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to both men and women.

Blastocyst

The structure formed in early development of pregnancy, prior to implantation.

Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

Monthly check for lumps or changes in the breast, performed about a week after menstruation.

Broad Shoulders

A secondary sexual characteristic that emerges in males after puberty.

Caesarean Section

A surgical procedure to remove a baby from the uterus through an incision in the abdomen.

Calendar Method

A contraceptive method where a woman predicts ovulation by tracking her menstrual cycle.

Caring Masculinity

Masculinity promoting emotional expression, sensitivity, and caregiving.

Cavernous Bodies

Cylindrical chambers in the penis that become engorged with blood during arousal.

Cervix

Small end of uterus to which vagina leads.

Cigarette

Contains nicotine and causes lung cancer, breathing diseases, and heart problems.

Circumcision

Surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis.

Cisgender

When someone's gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.

Clitoris

Sensitive organ with glans, shaft, and crura; important for sexual stimulation.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant that increases heart rate, energy, and confidence.

Commitment

Decision to engage and maintain a loving relationship.

Complicit Masculinity

Men who benefit from patriarchy without enacting strong masculine dominance.

Conception

The process encompassing fertilization of the egg by sperm and implantation.

Confidentiality

Protecting participant information and identity from unauthorized disclosure.

Consent

Saying "yes" and agreeing to something.

Contraceptive

A device or method used to prevent pregnancy.

Copulatory Behavior

Sexual behavior involving physical insertion of the penis into the vagina.

Corona

Rim of the glans where it arises from the shaft of the penis.

Corpus Spongiosum

Spongy body surrounding the urethra in the penis.

Cowper's Gland

Gland that produces alkaline secretions that are part of semen volume.

Crossdressing

Dressing as the opposite gender from time to time, but comfortable with biological sex.

Cycle of Violence

Repeated acts of violence in a relationship, escalating from minor incidents.

Deodorant

A product that covers up body odor.

Discrimination

Negative actions or behaviors towards a person based on stereotypes and prejudice.

Distributive Justice

Ensuring a study does not disadvantage marginalized groups and benefits all.

Divine feminine

The concept of the sacredness of women due to their ability to conceive children.

Domestic violence

Violence, such as physical abuse or marital rape, within a domestic setting.

Drag King/Queen

People who dress as the opposite gender for entertainment purposes.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation caused by overproduction of prostaglandins.

Ecstasy

A drug common at parties/clubs that increases energy and emotional closeness.

Ectohormone

Chemicals released outside the body, early term for pheromones.

Egalitarian

A society where men and women have equitable power and roles.

Ejaculatory Duct

Connects the vas deferens to the urethra.

Embryo

The structure formed when a sperm penetrates an egg during fertilization.

Endometrium

The inner lining of the uterus where the embryo attaches during pregnancy.

Epididymis

Structure where sperm mature and are stored, connects to the vas deferens.

Erection

The state of the penis when engorged with blood.

Erogenous Zone

Areas of the body with heightened sensitivity that can trigger sexual arousal.

Essentialist View

The belief that gender roles are natural and biologically determined.

Estratetraenol (EST)

A chemical found in female urine, considered a potential pheromone.

Estrogen

Influences female sex characteristics and initiates menstrual cycle.

Ethics in Research

Considerations ensuring participant well-being and study validity without undue harm.

Ethnography

Immersing in a community to observe experiences, beliefs, attitudes, and practices.

Exhibitionism

Arousal from exposing genitals to nonconsenting people.

Experiment

Observing behavior in controlled setups with experimental and control groups.

Explicit Stereotype

A stereotype that someone is aware they have.

Fallopian Tube

Carries egg cells from ovaries to uterus; fertilization occurs here.

Feminism

Social movements challenging patriarchy to create equality and dismantle oppressive structures against women.

Fertilization

The union of sperm and egg, forming an embryo.

Fetishism

Arousal from non-living objects or specific body parts.

Fight, Flight, Freeze

Three typical responses to a perceived threat or danger.

Fistula

An abnormal connection between two body parts, like the vagina and bladder/rectum, due to prolonged labor.

Follicular Fluid

Fluid surrounding the egg that may attract sperm from specific males.

Follicular Phase

Phase of the menstrual cycle when FSH stimulates ovaries to produce estrogen.

Force

Physical, emotional, social, or economic coercion used to compel behavior.

Foreskin

(Prepuce) The skin covering the head (glans) of the penis.

Frenulum

Thin strip of skin connecting the glans and shaft on the underside of the penis.

Frotteurism

Touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person for sexual arousal.

FTM

Female to male; a person assigned female at birth who identifies as male.

Gay

A man who is emotionally and sexually attracted to other men.

Gender Discrimination

Discrimination based on a person's gender.

Gender Expression

How someone outwardly presents their gender through appearance, clothing, etc.

Gender Identity

An internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither.

Gender neutral language

Language that does not discriminate against or favor any particular gender.

Gender Norm

Social expectations of how individuals should behave based on their perceived gender.

Gender pay gap

The difference between what men and women earn, with men typically earning more.

Gender Role

Culturally defined behaviors associated with masculinity and femininity.

Gender Studies

A field studying how reproductive roles are interpreted and negotiated in society through gender.

Gender-Based Violence

Harmful act against a person's will based on socially ascribed gender differences.

Genocide

The action of inhumanly degrading and treating someone as different.

Glans

The head of the penis, particularly sensitive to stimulation.

Gonad

Ovaries in females, testes in males; produce germ cells and sex hormones.

Harmful Traditional Practice

Cultural practices that negatively affect human and reproductive rights, especially for women.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

Hegemonic Masculinity

The pattern of practice that allows men's dominance over women to continue.

Hegemony

Cultural authority and leadership, but not total dominance.

Hemorrhage

Excessive bleeding.