Gender Development, Gender Roles, and Gender Identity Chapter 4 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 gender 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 chromosome Male: sperm (X or Y) Female: egg/ovum (X) Fertilization Haploid egg + Haploid sperm = Diploid zygote Sex is determined at conception Development of female or male sexual characteristics, usually Some developmental variations 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 organs external sex organs the embryo’s hormonal environment the brain’s sexual differentiation Gender Development, Gender Roles, and Gender Identity

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 organs external sex organs the embryo’s hormonal environment the brain’s sexual differentiation

Internal Sex Organs 5th – 6th week: primitive gonads form 7th – 8th week: gonads become testes with Y chromosome and the SRY gene 10th – 11th week: gonads become ovaries with absence of Y chromosome and SRY gene, and possibly the presence of ovarian hormones “Default setting” is female

Internal Sex Organs (Cont.) 10th – 11th week: primitive duct systems appear Müllerian duct (female) Wolffian duct (male) Their further development is hormonally controlled by the gonads

Internal Sex Organs (Cont.) Female embryos: Lack male hormones and Wolffian duct degenerates Müllerian duct forms: uterus, inner third of vagina Male embryos: Müllerian inhibiting factor regresses the Müllerian duct Testosterone stimulates the Wolffian duct

External Sex Organs Homologous organs: developed from the same prenatal tissue 8th week: tubercle differentiates Female: female hormones from mother and placenta promote development into female external genitalia Male: androgen secreted by the testes stimulate development into male external genitalia

Figure 4.2 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

Brain Differentiation Hormones affect the development of the brain The brain regulates secretion of hormones

Disorders of Sexual Development Atypical sexual differentiation can occur with irregularities in: Sex chromosomes Sex hormones Maternal hormone exposure

Chromosomal Disorders Over 70 sex chromosome abnormalities Extra or missing sex chromosomes 3 most common: Klinefelter’s Syndrome Turner’s Syndrome XYY Syndrome and Triple X Syndrome

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 can enhance secondary sex characteristics Often undiagnosed

Turner Syndrome XO – egg has no sex chromosome 1/2500 live female births Ovaries aren’t fully developed Amenorrhea Infertile Short stature Immature breast development Mental retardation Estrogen and progesterone therapy Health problems in adulthood

Female with Turner syndrome.

XYY Syndrome and 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 Disorders Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) XX girl exposed to excess androgen from adrenal glands prenatally 1/15,000 girls Female internal organs; sometimes masculinized external genitalia Similar syndrome develops from mother taking male hormones Corrective surgery, drugs Pregnancy possible in many CAH females Higher rates of bisexuality and homosexuality

Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) XY – the body doesn’t respond to testosterone that is produced by the testes 1/20,000 boys born with AIS each year No internal reproductive structure except two undescended testes Shallow “vagina” Breasts develop Do not menstruate; infertile Surgery can lengthen vagina Genetically male, but fully feminized as female

Genitalia of a fetally androgenized female and an androgen-insensitive male with feminized genitals.

Gender Roles and Gender Traits Gender roles – culturally defined behaviors, attitudes, emotions, traits, mannerisms, appearances and occupations that are seen by the culture as appropriate for females and males Gender traits – biologically determined differences between males and females

Gender Role Theory Evolutionary biology Social learning Cognitive development Gender schema theory

Masculinity: The Hunter Rights of passage in many societies Contradictions in the male role: Provide, but don’t solely focus on career Be sexually successful, but not degrading to women Be strong and stable, but be emotionally available Do 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 kids Not just for looks, but use makeup/be thin Opportunities 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 by dressing as the other sex Relaxing and peaceful to cross-dress Billy Tipton

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 surgeries M2F: realistic results, orgasm F2M: experimental stages

A completed male-to-female transsexual and a completed female-to-male transsexual.

Childhood: Learning by Playing Children are greatly defined by their gender Name, clothing, decorations, toys Treatment by parents, teachers, others Model behavior of same gender individuals Rewarded 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 Adults can revise their thoughts about gender roles Women pursue careers out of desire and necessity, yet hold primary responsibility for home life Women are breadwinners in 2/3 of low-income families

The Senior Years Double standard: men viewed as “distinguished;” women as “old” Media contributes to negative attitudes Attitudes vary by race and sexual orientation Many women experience “empty nest syndrome” Negative attitudes about aging exist across cultures