Sexuality Now Ch. 4

intersexual

A child with gonads (testes or ovaries) of one sex but ambiguous external genitalia. May also be referred to as a disorder of sexual development.

schema

A cognitive mechanism that helps to organize information.

gender-identity disorder

A disorder in which a child has a strong and persistent identification with the other sex or the gender role of the other sex and is uncomfortable with his or her own biological sex or gender role. May also be referred to as gender incongruence.

Mullein inhibiting factor

A hormone secreted in male embryos that prevents the Mullein duct from developing into female reproductive organs.

progesterone

A hormone that is produced by the ovaries and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle.

estrogen

A hormone that produces female secondary sex characteristics and affects the menstrual cycle.

androgen

A hormone that promotes the development of male genitals and secondary sex characteristics. It is produced by the testes in men and by the adrenal glands in both men and women.

transyouth

A label often used to describe youths who are experiencing issues related to gender identity expression.

transmen

A label that may be used by female-to-male transsexuals to signify they are male with a female history.

gynecomastia

Abnormal breast development in the male.

gender traits

Innate or biologically determined gender-specific behaviors.

testes

Male gonads inside the scrotum that produce testosterone.

transprejudice

Negative attitudes, behaviors, or discrimination against those who are transgendered.

phalloplasty

Reconstructive surgery procedure for the construction of a penis.

scrotoplasty

Reconstructive surgery procedure in which a scrotum is made; silicone implants may be placed in the scrotum.

vaginoplasty

Reconstructive surgery procedure used for the construction of the labia and vaginal canal.

secondary sexual characteristics

The physical characteristics, other than the genitalia, that distinguish male or female.

metoidioplasty

A clitoral release procedure used in female-to-male transsexuals in which the enlarged clitoris is released from its position and moved forward to more closely resemble the position of a penis.

gender schema

A cognitive mechanism that helps us to understand gender roles.

sex typing

A cognitive thinking pattern that divides the world into male and female categories and suggests the appropriate behaviors, thoughts, actions, professions, and emotions for each.

hermaphroditism

A condition in which a child is born with fully formed ovaries and fully formed testes. May also be referred to as a disorder of sexual development.

androgen-insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

A condition in which a genetic male's cells are insensitive to androgens, resulting in the development of female external genitalia (but no internal reproductive organs).

gender dysphoria

A condition in which a person feels extreme confusion and/or discomfort between his or her biological sex and gender identity.

transsexualism

A condition in which people identify with a gender other than the one they were given at birth.

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

A disorder involving overproduction of androgen in the adrenal glands that can affect males and females. Females born with this condition frequently have masculinized genitals because of excess prenatal androgen exposure, whereas males typically experience early pubertal changes.

gender fluidity

A flexible range of gender expression, which can change day-to-day and allows for less restrictive and stereotypical gender expectations.

gender binary

A gender classification system that divides people into two groups - male and female or masculine or feminine.

transgender or trans

A general term referring to a person or group of people who identify or express their gender in a variety of different ways, typically in opposition to their biological sex.

triple X syndrome

A genetic abnormality in which a female has an extra X sex chromosome; characterized by deceased fertility, some genital abnormality, and slight mental retardation.

XYY syndrome

A genetic abnormality in which a male has an extra Y sex chromosome; characterized by decreased fertility, some genital abnormality, and slight mental retardation.

Turner syndrome

A genetic disorder in females in which there is only one X sex chromosome instead of two, characterized by lack of internal female sex organs, infertility, short stature, and mental retardation.

Klinefelter syndrome

A genetic disorder in men in which there are three sex chromosomes, XXY, instead of two; characterized by small testes, low sperm production, breast enlargement, and absence of facial and body hair.

endocrine gland

A gland that secretes hormones into the blood.

transwomen

A label that may be used by male-to-female transsexuals to signify they are female with a male history.

germ cell

A male or female reproductive cell - the spermatozoon or ovum; also referred to as a gamete.

gamete

A male or female reproductive cell - the spermatozoon or ovum; also referred to as a germ cell.

testosterone

A male sex hormone that is secreted by the Leydig cells of mature testes and produces secondary sex characteristics in men.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A nucleic acid in the shape of a double helix in which all genetic information in the organism is encoded.

andropause

A period in a man's life, usually during his 70s or 80s, when testosterone decreases, causing a decrease in spermatogenesis, a thinner ejaculate, a decrease in ejaculatory pressure, decreased muscle strength, increased fatigue, and in some cases, mood disturbances.

transsexual

A person who identifies with a gender other than the one he or she was given at birth.

hysterectomy

A surgical operation to remove all or part of the uterus.

two-spirit

A term used in Native-American culture and other parts of the world for a male or female who is thought to possess both masculine and feminine spirits. (In Native American culture, also referred to as a berdache.)

chromosome

A threadlike structure in the nucleus of a cell that carries genetic information.

sex reassignment surgery (SRS)

A wide range of various surgical options to change genitalia on a transsexual; also referred to as a gender reassignment.

gender diverse

An individual whose gender identity or gender expression lies outside of the socially accepted gender norms.

autosome

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome.

homologous

Corresponding in structure, position, or origin but not necessarily in function.

gender roles

Culturally defined ways of behaving seen as appropriate for males and females.

ovaries

Female gonads that produce ova and sex hormones.

homosocial play

Gender-segregated play.

androgyny

Having high levels of both masculine and feminine characteristics.

disorder of sex development (DSD)

Medical term referring to conditions that can lead to atypical chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sexual development.

Wolffian duct

One of a pair of structures in the embryo that, when exposed to testosterone, will develop into the male reproductive system.

Mullerian duct

One of a pair of tubes in the embryo that will develop, in female embryos, into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and part of the vagina.

penectomy

Removal of the penis.

orchiectomy

Removal of the testes.

sex chromosomes

Rod-shaped bodies in the nucleus of a cell at the time of cell division that contain information about whether the fetus will become male or female.

amenorrhea

The absence of menstruation.

gender

The behavioral, psychological, and social characteristics associated with being biologically male or female.

menopause

The cessation of menstruation.

gender spectrum

The continuum of possibilities of biological gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.

mitosis

The division of the nucleus of a cell into two new cells such that each new daughter cell has the same number and kind of chromosomes as the original parent.

femininity

The ideal cluster of traits that society attributes to females.

masculinity

The ideal cluster of traits that society attributes to males.

gonads

The male and female sex glands - ovaries and testes.

gestation

The period of intrauterine fetal development.

socialization

The process in which an infant is taught the basic skills for functioning in society.

sexual reproduction

The production of offspring from the union of two parents.

zygote

The single cell resulting from the union of sperm and egg cells.

fertilization

The union of two gametes, which occurs when a haploid sperm and a haploid egg join to produce a diploid zygote, containing 46 chromosomes.

testosterone therapy

The use of testosterone to replace missing hormones in males with hormone disorders.

queer or genderqueer

Umbrella terms in the gender-diverse community that refer to a range of different sexual orientations, gender behaviors, or ideologies.