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Understanding Gender Identity and Roles: An Exploration

Delve into the complexities of sex and gender definitions, from genetic and anatomical traits to psychosocial meanings of maleness and femaleness. Learn about gender identity formation, typical prenatal differentiation, sexual differentiation of the brain, and atypical prenatal differentiation. Explore social learning influences on gender identity, the interactional model of nature versus nurture, and issues like transsexualism, transgenderism, and gender roles. Discover how agents of socialization shape gender expectations and the concept of androgyny in transcending traditional gender roles.

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Understanding Gender Identity and Roles: An Exploration

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  1. Chapter 5Gender Issues

  2. Sex and GenderDefinitions • Sex • genetic, anatomical • Gender • psychosocial meaning of maleness and femaleness • Gender Identity • subjective sense of being male or female • Gender (Sex) Role • cultural norms for male and female behavior

  3. Gender-Identity Formation • Typical prenatal differentiation • 23 human chromosomes • 22 autosomes and 1 sex chromosome • Chromosomal sex • XX: female XY: male • DSS gene on X • SRY gene on Y

  4. Typical Prenatal Differentiation

  5. Typical Prenatal Differentiation • Gonadal sex • Ovaries or testes • Hormonal sex • Estrogens and androgens

  6. Typical Prenatal Differentiation • Internal structures • Müllerian duct • Males – Vas deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct • Wolffian duct • Females – Fallopian tubes, uterus, inner 1/3 vagina • External structures • Genital tubercle • Clitoris or penis • Labioscrotal swelling • Labia or scrotum

  7. Prenatal Differentiation of Internal Structures

  8. Prenatal Differentiation of External Genitals

  9. Homologous Sex Organs

  10. Sex Differentiation Of The Brain • Hypothalamus • Differentiates in pregnancy • Directs production of sex hormones • May influence sex differences and sexual functioning • Cerebral hemispheres • Corpus callosum

  11. Parts of the Brain

  12. Atypical Prenatal Differentiation • Intersexed • True hermaphrodites • Pseudohermaphrodites • Sex chromosome disorders • Turner’s syndrome XO • Klinefelter’s syndrome XXY

  13. Atypical Prenatal Differentiation • Disorders affecting prenatal hormonal processes • Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) • Fetally androgenized females • DHT-deficient males

  14. Atypical Prenatal Differentiation

  15. Social Learning Influences on Gender Identity • Firm gender identity by age 3 • Mead study • Culture determines gender role • Long-term case studies by Money • Psychosexually neutral at birth • Follow-up of Money’s cases by Diamond • Another case often overlooked (Bradley) • Long-term problems with surgical reassignment

  16. The Interactional Model • Nature • Biological determinants • Nurture • Social learning and the environment • Acknowledge the interaction of both • Relative roles are still unclear

  17. Transsexualism and Transgenderism • Transexualism • Gender identity is opposite to biological sex • Transgendered • Appearance and/or behavior does not conform to traditional gender roles • Variations of transgendered behaviors • Intersexed people • Gender Identity vs. sexual orientation

  18. Transsexualism • Etiology • Options • Gender blending/cross-dressing • Psychotherapy • Sex reassignment • Outcomes

  19. Gender Roles • Gender-based stereotypes (North American) • Males • Independent and aggressive • Females • Dependent and submissive • Recent trend away from rigid stereotypes • Women less entrenched than men in rigid gender-role stereotypes • Ethnic variation in gender roles

  20. Gender RolesAgents of Socialization • Parental expectations • Peers • School teachers and textbooks • Television and gender-based stereotypes • Religious training

  21. Gender Role Expectations • Women undersexed, men oversexed • Men initiate, women receive • Women as controllers, men as movers • Men are unemotional and strong • Women are nurturing and supportive

  22. AndrogynyTranscending Gender Roles • Having characteristics of both sexes • Benefits • Drawbacks • May show more flexibility and comfort with sexuality

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