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.