Sex & Gender

1. Sex & Gender

2. Definitions… Sex: ‘refers to some biological fact, namely having a particular genetic makeup and reproductive anatomy and functions (sexual identity OR biological status)   Gender: ‘What culture makes out of the raw materials of biological sex…the social equivalent or social interpretation of sex’ (Gender identity) Gender and sexual identity are highly related in most but not all people

3. Gender role (sex role): ‘refers to behaviours, attitudes, values and beliefs society expects of us’ based on our sex Sexual orientation (sexual preference): ‘Is about which sex we chose to have a romantic relationship with’ Heterosexual – opposite sex partners – natural order for procreation (M+F / F+M) Homosexual – same sex partners (M+F / F+F) Bisexual – opposite and/or same sex (M+F / M+M - F+F / F+M)

4. Transsexual: Sex is one thing but their gender the another (M = physically male BUT mentally F) (F = physically female BUT mentally M) post-operative transsexual: Was physically one sex and has gone through the medical process of changing their body to become the opposite sex Transvestite – Someone who likes to dress in opposite sex clothing e.g. M in F attire, F in M attire

5. What makes us Male/Female? Gross identifies 5 different categories of biology: • Chromosomal sex – XX, XY • Gonadal sex – reproductive organs (ovaries/testes) • Hormonal sex (testosterone, oestrogen & progesterone) • Sex of internal accessory organs – Prostate gland, sperm and seminal ducts/valves, testes, fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries • Appearance of external organs (genitals)

6. HERMAPHRODITE MYTHICAL GREEK FIGURE

7. Mohave Indians - 4 gender roles: Male Female Hwame (woman living as a man) Alyha (man living as a woman)

8. What are the gender (sex) roles? Stereotypes: Williams & Best - 300 adjectives Students decides whether they were associated more with M/F/Both Active Aggressive Dependent Tough Gentle Resourceful Forgiving Patient Individualistic Pleasant Prudish Show-off Cautious Inventive Emotional Serious

9. Activity: • Are women more aggressive than men? • Do girls have greater verbal ability than boys? • Do boys have greater spatial abilities than girls? • Do boys have greater mathematical ability than girls?

10. Are men more aggressive than women? Weisfield ’94: Found: • Sex differences = present throughout development • Observable in children from 2.5yrs – social play stage - Boys/men remain more aggressive than females into adulthood

11. Do girls have greater verbal ability than boys? • Some studies have found no differences • Others suggest females have a greater ability to communicate verbally

12. Do boys have greater spatial abilities than girls? Hyde ’81 found: * In children = no differences in spatial ability • Adolescents = differences start to appear that these last into adulthood Men 25% higher scores than women

13. Do boys have greater mathematical ability than girls? Maccoby & Jacklin Found: • girls/boys (pre-school) gained the same results • age 12/13yrs = boys skills increased much quicker than girls

14. Theories of psychological differences Biological approach: • Jost (‘70) Found: Removal of ovaries in the embryonic stage = does not affect sexual development Removal of the testicles = develop differently and become a girl

15. Jost proposed that: • Natural form of all human babies is female • Y chromosome seems to be highly correlated with ‘biological vulnerablilty’ before birth and after birth - more likely to conceive a boy (120:100) - more boys are aborted in the early stages of pregnancy or are stillborn - more boys die of trauma during birth (106:100 live births) - Throughout life men are more susceptible to certain illnesses: e.g. asphyxiation, cerebral palsy, convulsions, viruses, ulcers, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, inherited disorders (haemophilia)

16. Boys/men Women Muscular Docile Higher activity levels Undemanding Easily irritated Verbal Demanding Less competitive Suited to: Suited to: Aggression, rough-and-tumble Nurturing, cooperative roles

17. Evaluation: • Assumes we can separate nature and nurture • Some biologists dismiss nurture while others believe it plays a smaller role than biology in determining sex roles

18. Sociobiological (evolutionary) approach: Each sex has developed instincts that lead to certain behaviours and responsibilities, especially related to procreation Males = physical strength, greater lung capacity = suited to hunting/defending family and territory Females = childbearing, milk producing = reproduction, child-rearing, nurturing, domestic labour

19. Evaluation: *Assumes promiscuity increases males chances of passing on his genes HWR: by doing this he can’t be sure his partner is pregnant – this is maladaptive • Behaviour could be learned not simply passed through genes (natural selection)

20. Social learning theory: • Direct experience • Observation What effect does the media has on gender roles? Do parents raise their sons and daughters differently?

21. Evaluation: • Evidence for ‘sex typing’ - treating a child in a particular way based on their biological sex e.g. Sears – boys allowed aggressive toys / express aggression through rough-and-tumble play Discouraged in girls – however study conducted in 1957! • Lytton (’91) Found: • amount of warmth and love, interaction, encouragement, restrictiveness, discipline & clarity of information same for both sexes • Makes sense