Gender key terms

Sex

A person’s innate biological status as male or female, determined by different chromosomes (XX or XY)

Gender

The psychosocial status of males or females including attitudes, behaviour and social role associated with being male or female

Sex-role stereotype

A set of expectations of appropriate behaviour for males and females in a society

Gender identity disorder

A condition where biological sex and gender identity do not correspond

Androgyny

Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics

Bem sex role inventory

Systematic attempt to measure androgyny on a scale of 60 traits to produce scores on masculinity-femininity and androgynous-undifferentiated

Masculinity

A gender term associated with male traits/roles

Femininity

A gender term associated with female traits/roles

Mental health

High levels of androgyny associated with better mental health because it can adapt to a greater range of situations

Chromosomes

23 pairs in humans containing genetic information, 23rd pair determine biological sex: XX for female, XY for male

Hormones

Hormones are chemical substances produced in the body that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs

Testosterone

A hormone produced mainly in the male testes (smaller amounts in the female ovaries)

Oestrogen

Primary female hormone important in the development of the menstrual cycle and reproductive system

Oxytocin

The ‘love’ hormone produced during labour and stimulates lactation

Atypical sex chromosome patterns

Any set of chromosome patterns that deviates from the usual XX/XY

Klinefelter’s sydrome

Males with the pattern XXY rather than XY

Physical effects of Klinefeter’s sydrome

Tallness, underdeveloped genitals, breast development and lacking body hair

Psychological effects of Klinefelter’s sydrome

Being passive, shy and having poor language development

Turner’s syndrome

Females where there is only one X (XO) chromosome instead of XX

Physical effects of Turner’s syndrome

Small stature, webbed neck and no ovaries

Psychological effects of Turner’s sydrome

Higher than average reading ability, poor peer relationships, visual memory and maths skills

Gender identity

Around age 2, child recognises they are a boy or a girl and labels others as such

Gender stability

Around age 4, own gender is fixed over time and they will be male or female when they are older

Gender constancy

Around age 6 or 7. Own gender and other peoples gender is consistent over time and situations

Imitation of role models

Once children achieve gender constancy, they seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with and imitate

Kohlberg’s theory

Believes that gender development including gender identity and gender roles is determined by a child’s level of thinking and understanding, and that there are three distinct stages of full gender identity- gender identity, gender stability and gender constancy