3.3a + 3.3c - Gender and Sexual Orientations (Sexual Development)

*Important to know the difference between sex and gender

→ Sex: the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define male, female, & intersex

→ Gender: the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates w/ a person’s biological sex

  • our understanding of gender arises from the interplay between our biology and experiences

Intersex: possessing male and female biological sexual characteristics at birth

  • most of us receive 23 chromosomes each from our mom and dad

    • 45/46 are unisex

Male & Female Differences

Aggression: any physical/verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically/emotionally

  • Men display physical aggression more than women

Relational Aggression: an act of aggressions (physical/verbal) intended to harm someone’s relationship/social standing

Prenatal & Adolescent Sexual Development

X Chromosome: sex chromosome found in females and males — females typically have 2 X chromosomes; males have 1

  • an X chromosome from each parent produces a female child

Y Chromosome: sex chromosome typically found only in males

  • when paired w/ an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child

Sex Hormones — during the 4th and 5th prenatal months, sex hormones bathe the fetal brain and influence its wiring (due to increase of testosterone and estrogen levels)

→ Testosterone: the most important male sex hormone

  • males and females have it but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs during the fetal period & the development of male sex characteristics during puberty

→ Estrogens: sex hormones such as estradiol, that contribute to female sex characteristics & are secreted in greater amounts by females than by males

* Puberty begins at 10 for girls, 12 for boys (girls have earlier entry to puberty)

→ Spermarche: the first ejaculation (usually at 14)

→ Menarche: first menstrual period

Primary sex characteristics: the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sex reproduction possible

Secondary sex characteristics: nonreproductive sex traits, such as female breasts & hips, male voice quality & body hair

Gender Development

Terminology that’s important to know:

Gender Theories:

Androgyny: displaying traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine psychological characteristics

→ androgynous people are:

  • adaptable

  • flexible in actions & career choices

  • resilient

  • self-accepting

  • less depressed