Chapter 6: Sex, Gender and Gender Identity
kisspeptin
a brain chemical believed to trigger the onset of puberty
delayed puberty
a condition in which the appearance of secondary sex characteristics and physical growth do not begin until well after they have begun in most children
stereotype threat
a self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype
gender schema
a set of behaviors organized around how either a male or female should think and behave
social role theory
a theory that gender differences result from the contrasting roles of men and women
estradiol
estrogen secreted by the ovaries
estrogens
female sex hormones
anal fold
forms the anus
genital tubercle
small projection on external surface; gives rise to external genitalia
medical transition
patients begin taking hormones. Trans women will begin taking estrogens as well as androgen (testosterone) blockers
genital swelling
regions of the genitalia in the embryo that give rise to the outer labia (in females) or the scrotum (in males)
nirwaan
removing the penis, testicles and scrotum, as an initiation into the group
gender non-binary or gender queer
Many transgender people do not identify as either a trans man or trans woman but as some gender identity in between or outside of the binary
"Gender Identity Disorder (GID)."
Strong, persistent cross-sex identification and a continuing discomfort with, or sense of inappropriateness of, one's assigned sex.
Sex
The biological sex characteristics (genes, hormones, anatomy) that are used to assign people to the category of male vs. female at birth
gender roles
The culturally defined behaviors that are seen as appropriate or expected for men and women.
Turner Syndrome
A chromosomal disorder in females in which either an X chromosome is missing, making the person XO instead of XX, or part of one X chromosome is deleted.
Klinefelter syndrome
A chromosomal disorder in which males have an extra X chromosome, making them XXY instead of XY.
XYY Syndrome
A chromosomal disorder in which males have an extra Y chromosome.
Triple X Syndrome
A genetic abnormality in which a female has an extra X sex chromosome; characterized by decreased fertility, some genital abnormality, and slight mental retardation.
leptin
A hormone produced by adipose (fat) cells that acts as a satiety factor in regulating appetite.
transvestism
A man who is sexually aroused by wearing, and interacting with, women's clothing and/or accessories
trans man
A person who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a man
trans woman
A person who was assigned male at birth and identifies as a woman
cisgender
A person's biological sex and gender identity are congruent
Hijra
A transgender person who was assigned male at birth. Hijras are officially recognized as a third gender by many governments, being neither a man nor a woman
Transgender
An umbrella term that describes a wide spectrum of people whose gender identity and/or gender expression do not conform to the gender they were assigned at birth.
Mullerian ducts
Earlier embryonic ducts that can develop into femal internal genitalia in the absence of testosteron.
Wolffian ducts
Early embryonic ducts that can develop into male internal genitalia under the proper stimulation (testosterone).
Question 6.24: From the video, match the following gender topics/identities. Gender Fluid Third gender Gender Expression Gender queer Two-spirit Agender Cisgender Gender non-conforming
Gender Fluid: Have a shifting gender identity; do not see themselves as male or female. Third Gender: Term used among North American Aboriginal or First Nations people who embody the spirit of both man and woman; often under the third gender umbrella. Gender Expression: How one expresses their gender. Typically based on behaviour and physical characteristics. Gender queer: All the gender identities that are outside of the traditional man/woman gender binary; also known as non-binary. Two-spirit: A society/ culture/ individual identifies as neither man nor woman and assigns a "third gender" to the identity. Agender: Person who does not have a gender. Cisgender: Identifying as one's biological sex; gender matches sex Gender non-conforming: Does not conform to stereotypical characteristics given to men and women and avoids conventional gender roles in society
Question 6.05: Match the primitive anatomical structure with its more mature form. Genital swelling Genital tubercle Urethral fold
Genital swelling: Outer labia / scrotum Genital tubercle: Clitoral / penile glans Urethral fold: Inner labia / penile shaft
Question 6.06: Match the female structure with its corresponding male structure. Glans of the clitoris Inner labia Outer labia Paraurethral (Skene's gland)
Glans of the clitoris: Glans of the penis Inner labia: Shaft of penis Outer labia: Scrotum Paraurethral (Skene's gland): Prostate gland
Gender identity
How someone personally defines their own gender. It is psychological and subjective.
neurosexism
Interpreting the findings from neuroscience research in ways that reinforce gender stereotypes without valid supporting evidence.
social transition
Patients are advised to live and interact with others in their community as a member of the gender to which they are transitioning, and to assume the gender markers
Transitioning
Process some individuals progress through in order to shift toward a gender role that differs from the one associated with their gender at birth.
5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency
Referred to as Dominican Republic syndrome because it almost exclusively occurs on this island. It occurs when a child is born as a female but naturally develops into a male at puberty.
autogynephiles
Sexually aroused by perceiving themselves or being perceived as females
Question 6.10: According to current estimates, about how many people's bodies differ from standard male/female? a) 1 in 500-1500 b) 1 in 300-400 c) 1 in 100-200 d) 1 in 50-100
a) 1 in 500-1500 b) 1 in 300-400 c) 1 in 100-200 d) 1 in 50-100
Question 6.31: Social transitioning involves which of the following? Select an answer and submit. a) A psychological evaluation b) Living part or full time in the person's desired gender c) Hormone treatments d) Surgeries
a) A psychological evaluation b) Living part or full time in the person's desired gender c) Hormone treatments d) Surgeries
Question 6.04: In a female embryo, the ________ of anti-Mullerian hormone allows the ________ to develop into the internal reproductive tract. a) Absence : Wolffian ducts b) Presence: Wolffian ducts c) Absence: Mullerian ducts d) Presence : Mullerian ducts
a) Absence : Wolffian ducts b) Presence: Wolffian ducts c) Absence: Mullerian ducts d) Presence : Mullerian ducts
Question 6.17: The video on bisexuality among women suggests that bisexuality and homosexuality may be an evolutionary phenomenon. What animal does the video draw human linkages to? a) Bonobo Chimps b) Grey Monkeys c) Orangutans d) Penguins
a) Bonobo Chimps b) Grey Monkeys c) Orangutans d) Penguins
Question 6.14: Which of the following is not typical of Turner syndrome? a) Broadened chest and neck b) Severe cognitive deficits c) Absence of a sex chromosome d) Infertility
a) Broadened chest and neck b) Severe cognitive deficits c) Absence of a sex chromosome d) Infertility
Question 6.16: Whereas ______ is typified by above typical levels of androgens in the prenatal period, _______ is typified by the XY body's inability to respond to androgens. a) Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia : Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome b) Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome : Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia c) Turner Syndrome : Klinefelter Syndrome d) Klinefelter Syndrome : Turner Syndrome
a) Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia : Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome b) Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome : Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia c) Turner Syndrome : Klinefelter Syndrome d) Klinefelter Syndrome : Turner Syndrome
Question 6.19: Social role theory assumes all of the following except: a) Differences in our biology make men and women more likely to assume different roles in certain economies. b) Gender roles form as behaviors that help people succeed in the job designated for their gender. c) All gendered behavior is the result of our biology. d) In society's where females and males perform the same work, gender roles weaken or fail to exist.
a) Differences in our biology make men and women more likely to assume different roles in certain economies. b) Gender roles form as behaviors that help people succeed in the job designated for their gender. c) All gendered behavior is the result of our biology. d) In society's where females and males perform the same work, gender roles weaken or fail to exist.
Question 6.11: What is the most common treatment for Klinefelter syndrome? a) Estrogen b) Surgery c) Testosterone d) Fertility drugs
a) Estrogen b) Surgery c) Testosterone d) Fertility drugs
Question 6.33: The best way to determine another person's gender identity/preferred pronoun is to: a) Examine their genotype. b) Examine their physical characteristics. c) Examine their cognitive abilities. d) Ask them.
a) Examine their genotype. b) Examine their physical characteristics. c) Examine their cognitive abilities. d) Ask them.
Question 6.12: Which of the follow is not a condition associated with Turners? a) Increased height b) Short stature c) Webbed neck d) Swollen feet at birth
a) Increased height b) Short stature c) Webbed neck d) Swollen feet at birth
Question 6.08: At the beginning of puberty, as a child's body reaches this critical mass/height set point, ________ is secreted by fat cells and triggers hypothalmic neurons to begin secreting ________. a) Kisspeptin : leptin b) Leptin : kisspeptin c) GnRH : estrogen d) Testosterone : GnRH
a) Kisspeptin : leptin b) Leptin : kisspeptin c) GnRH : estrogen d) Testosterone : GnRH
Question 6.13: Which of the following intersex condition could be typified by an XXY genotype? a) Klinefelter syndrome b) Turner syndrome c) XYY syndrome d) All of the above
a) Klinefelter syndrome b) Turner syndrome c) XYY syndrome d) All of the above
Question 6.02: At approximately the 7th week of embryonic development, the SRY gene on the Y chromosome directs the development of the ___________. a) Mullerian ducts b) Adrenal glands c) Ovotestes d) Wolfian ducts
a) Mullerian ducts b) Adrenal glands c) Ovotestes d) Wolfian ducts
Question 6.22: What is the term used to describe the idealized version of a gender? a) Prevalent b) Superficial c) Desired d) Hegemonic
a) Prevalent b) Superficial c) Desired d) Hegemonic
Question 6.32: Medical transition involves which of the following? a) Psychological evaluation b) Hormone treatments c) Surgeries d) B and C (but not A)
a) Psychological evaluation b) Hormone treatments c) Surgeries d) B and C (but not A)
Question 6.29: From the video Hormones and Gender Transition, how do people often describe the effects of the hormones on their body? a) Second puberty b) Gender neutral c) Venus over Mars d) Inspirational
a) Second puberty b) Gender neutral c) Venus over Mars d) Inspirational
Question 6.01: Samantha recently got her hair cut rather short. A friend commented that she looked like a boy. What was her friend commenting on? a) Sexual identity b) Gender expression c) Sexual orientation d) Gender identity
a) Sexual identity b) Gender expression c) Sexual orientation d) Gender identity
Question 6.09: Which of the following is not an effect of estrogen during puberty? a) Subcutaneous fat development b) Increased bone growth c) Breast development d) Development of softer skin
a) Subcutaneous fat development b) Increased bone growth c) Breast development d) Development of softer skin
Question 6.03: In an XY fetus, at approximately the 8th week of development, the ________ begin secreting ________. a) Testes : anti-Mullerian Hormone b) Ovaries: anti-Mullerian Hormone c) Testes: anti-Wolffian Hormone d) Ovaries: anti-Wolffian Hormone
a) Testes : anti-Mullerian Hormone b) Ovaries: anti-Mullerian Hormone c) Testes: anti-Wolffian Hormone d) Ovaries: anti-Wolffian Hormone
sexuality or sexual identity
all the aspects of our bodies and personalities that construct how we and others understand ourselves as sexual beings
gonadotropins
anterior pituitary tropic hormones, follicles stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) which stimulate the gonads (ovaries and testes) to produce gametes and to secrete sex steroids
SRY gene
at 7 weeks the sex determining region of the Y chromosome in males. Encodes the testis-determining factor, which turns the primordial gonads into the testes
anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)
ay 12 weeks a protein hormone secreted by the fetal testis that inhibits mullerian duct development
Cognitive Development Theory
children actively construct knowledge as they manipulate and explore their world
cloaca
common opening for digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts
guru
community leader that build their communities by adopting males who have fled or been abandoned by their families because of their gender identity
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)
condition during prenatal development in which androgen receptors malfunction in genetic males, impeding the formation of male external genitalia; in these cases, the child may be born with female external genitalia
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
condition during prenatal development in which the adrenal glands produce high levels of androgens; sometimes associated with masculinization of external genitalia in genetic females; and sometimes associated with higher rates of masculine-stereotyped play in genetic females
gender dysphoria
distress individuals experience as a result of the discordance between their bodies and their gender
Gynemimics (drag queens)
dress up in elaborate feminine clothing and costumes for the purpose of spoofing femininity and providing entertainment
social constructionist view
gender is nothing but a social construction, built in response to a culture's history and traditions
Misogyny
hatred of women
Gender expression
how a person communicates their sense of their own gender to the world. It refers to all the characteristics, traits, apparel, mannerism and other things that we understand as masculine, feminine or androgynous.
gonads
ovaries and testes
urogenital sinus
point where the vagina joins with the urethra
Intersex
possessing biological sexual characteristics of both sexes
gender confirmation surgery
surgery to modify genitals to match a transgender person's gender identity
sexism
the belief that one sex is innately superior to the other
sexual script
the gender-specific behaviors and mannerisms that people implicitly feel compelled demonstrate when interacting with potential partners, or with others they encounter in environments that make sexuality seem relevant
sexual double standard
the practice of applying stricter moral or legal controls to women's sexual behavior than to men's
precocious puberty
the very early onset and rapid progression of puberty
metiodioplasty
trans men forego the procedure and choose instead to have their clitoris enlarged in a procedure called a metiodioplasty
Kathoey
trans women in Thailand
Mahu
transgender group in Hawaii that enjoys traditional spiritual and social roles within their society
Fa'afafine
transgender group in Samoa that enjoys traditional spiritual and social roles within their society
Muxe
transgender group in souther Mexico that enjoys traditional spiritual and social roles within their society
cryptorchidism
undescended testicles
cross-dressing
wearing the clothing of the other sex, for any of a variety of reasons
Sexual orientation
who we are emotionally and physically attracted to. Gender identity has no bearing on sexual orientation.