gender & sexuality

guiding principles

1. infinite possibilities

2. seperate but interrelated

3. gender breaks down into seperations of M or F but can have combo

4. 3 realm sexual have 3 realms of orientation & attraction, behavior, identity (interrelated but not always aligned)

5. gender develop by biological sex but not always

6. gender broken down into gender identity, roles, other expressions

7. influences from biological, psychological, social, culture (influences fluctuates as one moves through lives)

8. indiviualism based on mutliple identities existing within/interact w/ sociocultural reals (socioeconomic status, region, race, religion, gender)

Sex

noun: a male or female based on reproductive functions

verb: define sex diff.

Gender

• characteristics distinguishing men and women

• discriminating characteristics based on sex, social role, gender identity

Gender typing

• acquire gender identity based on society appropriation

Gender identity

• how indiv. identify themselves based on categorization

• most primitive to concious/unconcious sense of belonging to one sex

Biosocial model: mone and ehrhardt (1972)

inheritance of sex hormone based on dev. testes/ovaries, secretion of fetal hormones

Kohlberg’s cognitive development theory

1. basic gender identity

• by 3 yrs, label selves as boy/girl

2. gender stability

• perceived as stable over time (girl→women, boy→men)

3. gender consistency

• sex is stable across situations (ex. 5-7 yrs not by appearance cross-dressing/activities)

gender role

• john money, psychologist @ Johns HOpkins

• public manifestation of labeling gender w/ societal standards

• money: public presentation based on gender, “mannerism, deportment, topics of talk, dreams/fantasies)

Gender role standards:

• value/class/motive prove what is appropriate for one sex

1. expressive role (kind, nurturing, cooperative, sensitive to need)

2. instrumental role (dominant, assertive, independent, competitive)

how identity forms

• embryos start as female, gonad make it gender identified by week 8 of gestation

• diff found within 4-5 days after conception

• structure identification present & perists/desist based on exposure to a gene product

normal dev. based on understanding abnormal dev.:

• ex. klinefelter’s/turners syndrome

Sexual orientation

• pattern of emotional, romantic, sexual attraction

• kinsey scale 0(exclusive heterosexual) 6(exclusively homosexual)

• identity NOT = to behavior

Human sexual dev.

1. childhood (0-7yrs)

• sexual response present since birth

• 24 hrs after birth, erections/vaginal lubrication

• 2.5-3 yrs, rhythmic manipulation of genitals

• kids engage in variety sexual play

• 6-9 yrs play becomes restrictive in awareness of cultural norms

• quality of attachment relationship important for kid sexual and emotional relationships later in life

• socialize according to gender role norms

• b/w 3-7 yrs, incr. in sexual interst & activity (ex. form concept of marriage, loving relationships, play house, genital diff., interest of other’s genitals)

2. preadolescence (8-12 yrs)

• homosocial organization

• sexual explore/learning w/ same gender ppl

• gain experience through masterbation

• 10-12 yrs 1st sexual attraction & fantasies

• group dating, gendered parties

3. adolescence (13-19 yrs)

• biological dev. (puberty→incr. sexual interest, 10-14 yrs maturation of sexual characteristics, sex hormones make more fantasies and attractions, interaction w/ social factors of inhibit vs facilitate sexual expression)

• sexual behavior (13-15 yrs males start masturbation while female more gradual, mid/late adol. begin sexual intercourse of 48% F 52% M, Afr 15.5 yrs Cuban & PR 16.6 yrs Mex/caucasians 17 yrs men @ younger than women, menarch falling in 20th century @ 12-13 yrs, teen pregnancy fall 18%. same sex experiences 5-10% M 6%F)

• dev. tasks (identity vs. role confusion, learn to manage physical & emotional intimacy in relationships)

4. adulthood

• achieving sexual maturity

• learn effective communication w/ partner

• develop/inform decision on reproduction and prevent

  STD

Sexual satisfaction

• range of sexual frequency, act in relationships that change over time

• happy or not

1. accept sexuality

2. listen to partner’s tastes

3. talking open and honest

• post marital/extramarital relationships

sexuality & aging

• biological change (meno & andropause)

• societal influences (societal attitudes towards intercourse & masturbation, nursing home and care facilties)