4 - Gender as the Social Component of Sexuality

Gender

socially constructed characteristics of men and women, which varies from society to society and can be changed (WHO)

• refers to the individual’s and society’s expression of sexuality and the malleable concepts of feminity and masculinity

• describes the psychological (gender identity) and sociological (gender role) representations of the biological sex

Identity

It is the conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction; constantly changing due to experiences and information we acquire in our daily interaction with others (Erik Erikson)

Gender role

a social role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that person’s biological or perceived traits.

Gaydar

the attempt to detect sexual orientation in social situations

Gender identity

the personal sense of one’s own gender

Gender role

refers to the set of behaviors socially defined as appropriate for one’s sex.

Gender stereotypes

preconceived ideas whereby females & males are arbitrarily assigned characteristics & roles determined & limited by their genders

Gender identity

one’s internal, personal sense of being a man or woman (Gay & lesbian alliance against defamation)

• defined as the individual’s private experience of the self as female or male

Gender expression

external manifestations of gender, expressed through one’s name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics (masculine or feminine)

Binary & Nonbinary

Types of Gender Classification based on Identity

Binary

classification of genders based on two distinct opposite forms, such as masculine and feminine, male & female; usually views gender as a category

Non Binary

classification of gender based on a variety of ranges, often are not exclusively masculine or feminine; usually views gender as a spectrum

Masculine & Feminine

BINARY Classification of Gender

Bisexual / trisexual

Non-Binary Classifications of Gender:

1. More than one gender

Agender, nongendered, genderless, genderfree, neutrois

No gender

Gender fluid

moving between genders or having a fluctuating gender identity

Gender as a spectrum

There are individuals whose genders do not fit within the stereotypes of either male or female

Cisgender & Transgender

Types of Genders Based on Congruence to Ascribed Sex (2)

Cisgender

a person whose sense of personal identity and gender CORESSPONDS with their sex at birth

Transgender

a person whose sense of personal identity and gender DOES NOT correspond with their sex at birth

Gender role, Career path, Dating & relationships, Sexual behavior

BEHAVIORS AFFECTED BY GENDER EXPRESSION (4)

Carl Rogers

According to _______, there are two domains in our personality: our real self, and our ideal self. Sometimes the two meet. Sometimes they don’t.

Real self & Ideal self

2 Domains of Personality

real self

Who we actually are

Ideal self

The ideal self is how we want to be

Congruence

When our real self and ideal self are NOT IN CONFLICT with one another, Rogers believe we attain a state of ________; It allows the development of a healthy personality.

Incongruence

When our real self and ideal self DOES NOT MATCH, We develop a state of __________, resulting in an inner conflict.

mental distress or anxiety

The lack of alignment, will result in?

• The greater the level of incongruence between the real self and the ideal self, the greater the level of resulting distress

Coming out of the Closet / Coming out

a metaphor for LGBT people’s self-disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity

out

individuals who are openly LGBT

closeted

individuals who opted to keep their gender identity and sexual orientation PRIVATE

outing

a deliberate or accidental disclosure of an LGBT person’s gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Glass closet

the open secret of when public figures being LGBT is considered a widely accepted fact even though they have not openly come out

Transitioning

the process of CHANGING one’s gender presentation and/or sex characteristics to accord with one’s internal sense of gender identity

Social transitioning

the aspects of transition involving social, cosmic, and legal changes, WITHOUT regard to medical intervention

passing

refers to being perceived and accepted by other people in a manner that is consistent with one’s gender identity

going stealth

means to live as a gender without other people realizing a person is transgender

Detransitioning

process of changing one’s gender presentation or sex characteristics BACK to accord with one’s assigned sex

Sex reassignment surgery

a surgical procedure by which a transgender’s appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are ALTERED to resemble those socially associated with their identified gender

• It is part of treatment for gender dysphoria in transgender people.

• pain

• cost & availability

• culture & religion

Factors AFFECTING the Decision to Subject oneself to Surgery (3)

Gender inequality

legal, social, and cultural situation in which sex and gender determine different rights and dignity for men and women, which are reflected in their UNEQUAL access to or enjoyment of rights, as well as the assumption of stereotyped social and cultural roles

Discrimination

the act of making distinctions between human beings based on groups, classes, or other categories to which they are perceived to belong

• occurs when individuals are treated in a way which is WORSE than the way people are usually treated on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in certain groups or social categories.

Social stigma

the disapproval of, or discrimination against a person based on perceivable social characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of the society

Gender based violence

any act that is perpetuated AGAINST a person’s will & is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships

Bullying

the use of force, coercion, or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate, or intimidate

• Hostile intent

• Imbalance of Power

• Repetition

• Distress

Criteria for Bullying (4)

Sexual harassment

any form of sexual behavior that is offensive

Sexual consent

refers to voluntary, conscious, and empathic participation in a sexual act, which can be withdrawn at any time

Sexual consent

It is the baseline for what psychologists and sociologists consider normal – acceptable and healthy – sexual behavior

Consent

means each person wants to participate in whatever physical or sexual act that is happening

ASK

Always ___ before you touch someone. It’s easy and respectful.

CANNOT

People who are drunk, high, or asleep _______ give consent.

Rape

the use of force, intimidation, or threat to coerce a targeted individual into a non-consensual sexual intercourse or any related non-consensual sexual activity

force, threat, or intimidation

Criteria for Rape (RA8353):

1. If The sexual activity is coerced by?

Unconscious

2. The offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise _______

authority

3. There is utilization of a deceitful scheme or grave abuse of ______

12 y.o.

4. The offended party is __ years old or mentally unstable

power imbalance between victim & harasser

What is a common feature of sexual harassment cases?

TRUE

TRUE OR FALSE.

Nonconsensual sex coerced by force, intimidation, or unconsciousness, between individuals involved in a ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP may still be considered as RAPE