Gender Roles & Sexuality

Flashcards covering key concepts related to gender roles and sexuality.

Sex

The biological characteristics that define male and female.

Gender

The social and cultural features that society associates with men and women.

Gender roles

Patterns of behavior that society considers appropriate for males and females.

Gender stereotypes

Overgeneralized and largely inaccurate beliefs about the characteristics of all males and females.

Transgender

Individuals whose internal sense of gender does not match their assigned sex.

Cisgender

Individuals whose internal sense of gender matches their assigned sex.

Gender identity

Internal awareness of one's own gender.

Biosocial theory

Theory suggesting that biological events influence the development of gender roles.

Sexual orientation

Preference for sexual partners of the same or other sex.

Gender intensification

Process where gender differences are magnified by hormonal changes and societal pressures during adolescence.

Differential reinforcement

The process where children are rewarded for behaviors considered appropriate for their assigned gender.

Observational learning

Learning gender role behaviors by imitating individuals of the same sex.

Childhood gender nonconformity (CGN)

Not adhering to the typical gender-role norms expected for one's assigned gender.

Gender schema theory

Theory positing that children are motivated to acquire values and behaviors consistent with their gender identity.