Chapter Three

Gender Development, Gender Roles, and Gender Identity

Agenda

Discuss Distinction between Gender and Sex Review Various Theoretical Explanations for

Gender Differences Discuss Gender Roles

Gender Roles & Gender TraitsGender Role TheoryVarieties of GenderGender Role Socialization

Distinction Between Gender & Sex

Gender – refers to behavioral, psychological, and social characteristics of men and women

Sex – refers to the biological aspects of being male or female

Both nature and nurture are important in forming genderCase study: Dr. John Money and

Brenda/Bruce

Theoretical Explanations for Gender Differences

From Table 3.4 in Text

Table 3-4, p. 82

Prenatal Development: X and Y Make the Difference

Humans reproduce sexually and are made to be sexual beings

Each parent supplies a gamete, each with half of the genetic information (23 chromosomes), including a sex chromosomeMale: sperm (X or Y)Female: egg/ovum (X)

Sex is determined at conception

Sexual Differentiation in the Womb

Gestation: 9 months 4-6 weeks: gonads begin to develop and

sexual differentiation starts 1-2 weeks later Sex chromosomes control development of:

internal sex organsexternal sex organsthe embryo’s hormonal environmentthe brain’s sexual differentiation

Homologous Tissue: Male and female organs that began from the same prenatal tissue are called homologous.

Development of the male and female external genitalia from the undifferentiated genital tubercle.

Hormonal Development and Influences

Ovaries produce:Estrogen: female sexual characteristics Progesterone: menstrual cycle and

pregnancy Testes produce:

Androgens: development of male-typical characteristics

Sex Chromosome Disorders

Over 70 sex chromosome abnormalities Extra or missing sex chromosomes 3 most common:

Klinefelter’s syndromeTurner’s syndromeXYY/XXX

Klinefelter’s Syndrome

XXY – egg contained an extra X 1/700 live male births Develops male genitalia, but not fully Tall, feminized body Low testosterone levels; low in sexual desires Gynecomastia Infertile Testosterone therapy

XYY Syndrome / Triple X Syndrome

XYY or XXX – sperm contains an extra sex chromosome, or egg has an extra X

May be normal male (XYY) or normal female (XXX)

May have slight mental retardation and/or fertility problems

Hormonal Irregularities

Hermaphrodite – born with fully developed testes and ovaries; extremely rare

Pseudohermaphrodite – external genitals appear on some level similar to both sexesCongenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

Gender Roles

Gender Roles & Gender TraitsGender Role TheoryVarieties of Gender

Gender Role Socialization

Gender Roles and Gender Traits

Gender stereotypes greatly influence our thoughts and interactions

Gender roles – culturally defined behaviors, attitudes, emotions, traits, mannerisms, appearances, and occupations that are appropriate for females and males

Gender traits – biologically determined differences between males and females

Class Exercise:Discuss Gender Stereotypes

How are stereotypes generally supported? How are they challenged? How has our culture responded to efforts to change gender role stereotypes?

What messages did you learn in your family about gender?How does gender role socialization occur before a

child is born?How are gender roles reinforced by your partner?

How does the use of language influence gender stereotypes?

How does the media support gender stereotypes? Does it present challenges?

Gender Stereotypes

What stereotypes does this cartoon reinforce?

Gender Stereotypes

What stereotypes does this cartoon reinforce?

Gender Stereotypes

What stereotypes does this cartoon reinforce?

Masculinity and Femininity

Ideal cluster of traits that society attributes to each gender

Changes with society, and varies from culture to cultureLess gender role stereotyping in African

Americans and Northern U.S.

Gender Role Theory

A variety of theorists and positionsEvolutionary biology: gender differences

are due to adapting to our environmentSocial learning: learn gender roles from

society, our environmentCognitive development: universal stages

for understanding and utilizing gender

Gender Role Theory

Gender schema: cognitive structures organize “gender,” influenced by culture

Gender hierarchy: men are the standard and their traits are valued more by society

Chodorow’s developmental: psychoanalytic background; boys separate from mom by devaluing females; girls can love mom as a heterosexual and idealize father’s qualities

Gender Role Theory

Ortner’s culture/nature: masculinity is associated with culture, femininity with nature; culture encompasses nature

MacKinnon’s dominance: men use gender to dominate; it is not a biological or social issue

Varieties of Gender

Sex typing – thought processes that split the world into female and male categories

Greatly influences our thoughts and behaviors

Masculinity and femininity are independent traits

Masculinity: The Hunter

Rights of passage in many societies Contradictions in the male role:

Provide, but don’t solely focus on careerBe sexually successful, but not degrading

to womenBe strong and stable, but be emotionally

availableDo not be dependent on a woman

Men have a less flexible role than women

Femininity: The Nurturer

Typically viewed as the opposite of masculinity

Characterized by beauty, empathy, concern, softness, modesty

Contradictions in the female role:Job fulfillment, but stay at home with kidsNot just for looks, but use makeup/be thinOpportunities are available, on men’s

terms

Androgyny: Feminine and Masculine

Rate high in femininity and masculinity Flexibility in behaviors This concept may be reinforcing gender roles

Transgenderism: Living as the Other Sex

10-15% of the population Live the other gender’s role, full/part-time Happy as their biological sex, but

psychosocially pleasured dressing as the other sex

Relaxing and peaceful to cross-dressBilly Tipton

Billy Tipton was a well-known jazz musician who was discovered to be a female when he died in 1989.

Transsexualism: When Gender and Biology Don’t Agree

Feel their gender identity does not match their biological sex (Gender Dysphoria)

“Trapped” in the wrong body More males than females experience this Sex reassignment surgery involves a long

process: psychological counseling, live as the other sex, hormones, multiple surgeriesM2F: realistic results, orgasmF2M: experimental stages

Third Genders: Other Cultures, Other Options

Some cultures have a third gender categoryNative American berdacheOman xanˉ ýthIndian hijraThai kathoeyHawaiian aikaneTahitian mahu

Asexualism: The Genetics but Not the Sex

Born without any sexual organs (no biological gender)

Has a genetic gender (XX or XY) Typically assigned gender as a child and

given hormones

Gender Role Socialization Across the Lifespan

Childhood

Adolescence

Adulthood

Senior Years

Childhood: Learning by Playing

Children are greatly defined by their genderName, clothing, decorations, toysTreatment by parents, teachers, othersModel behavior of same gender individualsRewarded for stereotypical behavior,

punished for nonstereotypical behavior (especially boys)

Homosocial play beginning 2½ to 3 years old

Adolescence: Practice Being Female or Male

Trying roles to determine what it is to be a man or woman

Difficult time for transgendered, homosexual, bisexual youth

Adulthood: Careers and Families

“Breadwinner” is a prized part of being male Women pursue careers out of desire and

necessity, yet hold primary responsibility for home life – more than men with the same occupation

Women and Family Life

Primary satisfaction/identity should be as wife and mother

Modern thought also insists on a career outside of the home

Often feel guilt for not adequately meeting both demands

Men and Family Life

Fathers spend less time with their infants than mothers

Stay-at-home dads are becoming more common, but social pressure suggests they should be in the work force and labels them as “unemployed”

The Senior Years

Female with typical wife/mother role may experience “empty nest syndrome”

Adjustment required at retirement if a large part of identity was related to work

More relaxed gender roles