Gender Spectrums: The Biological and the Cultural

1. Gender Spectrums: The Biological and the Cultural

2. The Biology of Sex and Gender • Three Critical Periods of Development for anatomy and physiology • Internal genitalia • External genitalia • Brain differentiation

3. All mammals including humans begin life as embryos that have the potential to be either male or female in three ways Brain Gonads and Internal Duct Systems External Genitalia

4. Gonads and Internal Duct Systems

5. Male DifferentiationTestes and Ducts SRY Gene H-Y antigen A male has one X and one Y chromosome. The Y chromosome has an SRY gene, that produces a substance called H-Y antigen. H-Y antigen causes the undifferentiated gonads to become testes. Testes

6. Female DifferentiationOvaries and Ducts No Antigens produced A female has two X chromosomes. There is no SRY gene, because that gene only exists on a Y chromosome. In the absence of the SRY gene, no H-Y antigen is produced. In the absence of H-Y antigen, the undifferentiated gonads become ovaries.

7. Development of External Genitalia Development of External Genitalia

8. Male DifferentiationExternal Genitalia The testes produce testosterone. The testosterone circulates in the bloodstream and is converted to dihydrotestosterone by a substance called 5 alpha reductase. Dihydrotestosterone causes the undifferentiated external genital tissue to develop into the penis and scrotum.

9. Adult Male External Genitalia

10. Male Adult Gonads and Ducts

11. Female DifferentiationExternal Genitalia The Ovaries produce no testosterone. In the absence of testosterone, the undifferentiated external genital tissue develops into the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora.

12. Adult Female Anatomy

13. Adult Female Gonads and Ducts

14. Male DifferentiationBrain and Behavior 1. The testes produce testosterone. • Testosterone crosses the blood brain barrier into the brain. 4. The Presence of estradiol in the brain causes it to become masculinized. • A substance present in the brain called aromatase converts the testosterone to estradiol, a type of estrogen. Blood-Brain Barrier Aromatase Estradiol Testosterone

15. Female DifferentiationBrain and Behavior 3. Alpha-fetoproteins present in the baby’s system cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. They bind with the estradiol and prevent it from crossing into the brain. 2. Estradiol from the Mother crosses the Placenta into the baby’s blood stream 4. The absence of estradiol in the brain causes it to become feminized. 1. There are no testes to produce testosterone that can be converted to estradiol in the brain Blood-Brain Barrier Estradiol Alpha-fetoproteins

16. Four Examples of Ways Sexual Differentition Can Go Wrong • A genetically male embryo lacks the ability to sense the presence of testosterone. • The mother of a genetically male embryo is producing large amounts of adrenaline, which floods the embryo’s body. The adrenaline binds to the receptors that usually detect testosterone, preventing it from being recognized by the body, even if it is present in large amounts. • Lack of 5 alpha reductase that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. • A genetically female embryo is exposed to external sources of testosterone, or substances that are mistaken for testosterone in the body. Eg. Diethylstilbestrol

17. Key Terms Sexual Differentiation • X & Y Chromosomes • DNA • SRY gene • H-Y antigen • Gonad • Mesonephros • Mullerian ducts • Wolffian ducts • Testosterone • 5 alpha reductase • Dihydrotestosterone • Aromatase • Alpha-fetoprotein • Estradiol • Ovary • Fallopian tubes • Uterus • Vagina • Testis • Seminal vesicle • Prostate • Vas deferens • Epididymis • Penis • Clitoris • Scrotum • Vulva (Labia)

18. Ambiguous Genitalia

19. Hermaphrodite Genitalia

20. Surgical Reconstruction to Female

21. Surgical Reconstruction to Male

22. The social and cultural components of being male and female. Gender

23. Bem Androgeny Scale Masculine Index Feminine Index Male Median Score: 23 21 Female Median Score: 22 25 High Male, Low Female ……………Masculine High Female, Low Male ……………Feminine High Male, High Female…………...Androgenous Low Male, Low Female ……………Undifferentiated

24. Gender-Crossing Behaviors and Traditions • Cross-dressing rituals • Female Warriors • Same Sex Marriages • Inter-gendered religious practitioners • Entertainers

25. Alternative Gender Systems Berdache Native America Ihamana Zuni Amazon Native America Hijras India & Pakistan Waria Java & Bali Fa’afafine Samoa Fakaleiti Tonga Rae Rae/Maju Tahiti Bissu, Calalai & Calabai Sulawesi (Indonesia)

26. Waria from Java This alternative gender role exists in Java, Indonesia. It is a native custom that is deeply ingrained in the culture, and Muslim scholars have found that it does not violate Islamic principles.

27. Berdache North America Among many North American tribes, male children who display feminine characteristics at an early age are raised as Berdache, a person with both male and female characteristics who has been sent as a go-between to mediate between males and females. Berdaches were typically apprenticed to a shaman or healer. They learned to perform the work of both men and women and dressed as women.

28. Berdache Berdache also included females choosing to live as males. Sioux women could choose to become warriors and became female husbands to female wives. Among the Kaska, families always raised one of their daughters to become a hunter and warrior. Such a women had sexual relations with other women, and sexual contact with men caused bad luck.

29. Fa’afahine, Samoa In the Pacific, when families have too many sons, sons may be raised as girls to insure enough hands to accomplish all the women’s tasks in the household. Traditionally, as adults these individuals would continue to perform female tasks but would marry a woman. Today, fa’afahine ae frequently gay and usually choose to live as women. Families today allow such sons to choose which gender role fits them personally. Fa’afahine are valuable members of society because they combine the skills of women with the strength of men.

30. Fa’afafina in SamoaVideohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV_g6X2PEvs

31. Hijras Hijras are a tradition in India and Pakistan. They play a very important role in society as they provide entertainment that is required at many ritual occasions. They are men who dress and act as females. They are either born as hermaphrodites, or choose to become hijra. Many who choose to become hijra undergo castration. This was required in the past in order to work as a guard for harems, and continues today as a powerful symbol of membership in the hijra community.

32. Hijra in India & PakistanVideos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDoVLDHSQYQ&feature=related • http://www.encyclopedia.com/video/wBs4r-uf3bw-my-big-fat-punjabi-weddinghijras.aspx • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC-k27Kvtrw&feature=relmfu • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYxx7zeLwDk • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzOK4tkGreg

33. Sulawesi IndonesiaFive Genders • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9VmLJ3niVo