Discuss the biological explanation to gender development (16 marks)

A01

The biological approach to gender development suggests that gender is developed by chromosomes and hormones.

Chromosomes: A typical human has 23 pairs of chromosomes and the 23rd pair determines biological sex - XX = Female, XY = male. The sex determining region Y (SRY) causes testes to develop. The absence of SRY causes development of ovaries.

Hormones: Male androgens - testosterone - develop the testes and are linked to aggression. Female hormones are mainly oestrogen which determine female characteristics and menstruation. Women also produce oxytocin in higher quantities than men and reduces stress hormone cortisol and stimulates lactation.

A03

Supporting research from case study - David Reimer.

David Reimer was biologically male but was raised as a female after a mistake during circumcision. David Reimer found it incredibly difficult to socialise with other girls and perform ‘feminine’ activities. This case study highlights the important role biology plays in gender development as David Reimers chromosome and hormones outweighed the environmental influences that were intended to shape his gender identity. Therefore this is support that the biological explanation holds significance in explaining gender development.

Research support - Van Goozen - Hormone replacement therapy

Van Goozen studied transgender individuals undergoing hormone treatment and injecting hormones of the opposite sex. He found that transgender women (male to female - taking female hormones) showed decreased in agression and visuo-spatial skills whilst transgender men (female to male - taking male hormones) showed the opposite. This research clearly indicates that sex hormones do exert some influence on gender-related behaviours. For that reason this is a strength for the biological explanation for gender development

Weakness of the biological explanation - Biologically reductionist

The biological explanation is biologically reductionist because it reduces the complexity of gender to chromosomes and hormones. If gender was purely down to these factors then we would expect to find many more differences between male and females then there actually are. This explanation ignores environmental cues and social interactions which hold significance in gender development. For this reason, this is a weakness of the biological explanation for gender development.