Unit 4 GENDER & SEXUALITY

Gender Development Much ado about a small difference : Though we can identify gender differences, the variation among individual women and among individual men greatly exceeds the difference between the average woman and man

Objective 1: Gender Similarities and Differences Gender and aggression Physical versus relational aggression –Men tend to be more violent –Women tend to be more aggressive in social relationships Gender and social power M: more importance on power & achievement M: directive W: democratic Gender and social connectedness W: more concerned w/ making relationships M: more concerned with asserting independence differences peak in adolescence & early adulthood

…Social Connectedness Boys form large groups w/ active & competitive play. Girls play in smaller groups w/ less competitive play. More open to feedback & react to it more than boys Teen Years: girls on social networking more – Boys: work side-by-side – Girls: face-to-face W 5x more likely to take care of kids, 85% of greeting cards, most people report feeling closer to their mothers (90%), when turning to someone who will understand you & share your worries - most of us turn to a woman.

MALE SURVEY 1. What are some words you listed as typically male vs. typically female? 2. What messages do you remember picking up (from books, media, teachers, peers, or other adults) about men and their emotions? 3. Do you think it’s better to hide your emotions or “let them out?” Why? 4. How comfortable do you feel about “nurturing” others (e.g., diapering a baby, comforting a friend, holding a sick child’s hand)? 5. What (if any) of the messages on the list might you give to your own son? Do you think you might give your daughter the same or different messages? 6. In an ideal world, what would a woman be like? FEMALE SURVEY 1. What are some words you listed as typically male vs. typically female? 2. What messages do you remember picking up (from books, media, teachers, peers, or other adults) about women having careers? 3. If you could change some of the messages you received as a child, which would you change, and what would you substitute for them? 4. What (if any) messages on the list might you give your own daughter? Do you think you would give your son the same or different messages? 5. In an ideal world, what would a man be like?

Objective 2: How is biological sex determined, & how do sex hormones influence development & gender differences? Genetically (chromosomes) –45 of 46 are unisex45 of 46 are unisex –X chromosomeX chromosome –Y chromosome (7 th week)Y chromosome Mom gives you an X Dad gives you 46 th non unisex chromosome – either X (girl) or Y(boy) Physiologically (Sex hormones) –TestosteroneTestosterone External male sex organs A woman w/ more testosterone can be more athletically built –Estrogen

…Objective 2… Gender Characteristics that people associate with male & female –long vs. short hair Sex –The biology of male / female Transgender –One’s gender identity feels mismatched with their biological sex Gender Identity – One’s sense of being male r female Sexual Orientation – The direction of one’s sexual attraction

Objective 3: What is the importance of gender roles in development? Male Spatial skills – Driving directions – Packing a car Female Variation in shades of color Following written/verbal direction Memory for faces Brain Games: Battle of the Sexes (notes)

Objective 4: What does current research tell us about sexual orientation? Culture – “Heterosexuality prevails & homosexuality endures” Data – 2.5% population is gay/lesbian 3-4% of men 1-2% of women – Fewer than 1% bisexual “Sexual Orientation is neither willfully chosen nor willfully changed” Erotic Plasticity – Sexual variability (women’s sexual orientation is LESS strongly felt & MORE variable)

…Objective 4 Environment & Sexual Orientation – 4 Factors that Play NO Role in Homosexuality: Biology & Sexual Orientation – Same-Sex Attraction in Other Animals 1. – Brain Differences – Genetic Influence – Prenatal Influence 1.

Objective 4: Environment & Sexual Orientation 4 Factors that Play NO Role in Homosexuality: 1. child’s relationship w/ parents 2. fear or hatred of other gender 3. sex hormones currently in the blood 4. childhood sexual abuse

Biology & Sexual Orientation Same-Sex Attraction in Other Animals 1. see same sex attraction in 100s of animal species Brain Differences 1. hypothalamus larger in heterosexual men than in women & gay men (LeVay) 2. see different arousal patterns in brain (response to men’s sweat) 3. fibers connecting left & right hemisphere larger in homosexual men

Genetic Influence 1.runs in families -more homosexual relatives on mother’s side 2.identical twins a little more likely than fraternal twins to share homosexual orientation 3. fruit flies single gene altered & changed flies’ sexual orientation

Prenatal Influence 1.between 2 nd & 5 th month of pregnancy -exposure to hormones may predispose the fetus (male or female) to be attracted to males later in life 2. mother’s immune system while pregnant - fraternal birth order effect

Objective 5: How do evolutionary psychologists explain human sexuality? Hunger & sex are different motivations If we do not eat we die. Why is sexuality so important? Life is sexually transmitted. Sexual motivation is nature’s way of making people procreate, enabling our species to survive.

… Objective 5 Gender Differences in Sexuality 1.If two people really like each other, it’s all right for them to have sex even if they’ve known each other for a very short time. 2. I can imagine myself being comfortable and enjoying “casual” sex with different partners. 3. Affection was the reason I first had sex. 4. I think about sex everyday, or several times a day. %age of women/men who agreed W: 34% W: 12% W: 48% W: 19% M: 58% M: 48% M: 25% M: 54%

Men have a more recreational approach to sex whereas women have a more relational approach.  Where do you think gay men fall on the recreational vs. relational sex spectrum? Gay men match straight men in that they view sex as more recreational than women. … Objective 5 Gender Differences in Sexuality

Mating Preferences Women prefer men who seem mature, dominant, bold, and affluent – Traits that support & protect – Women prefer men who stick around (greater survival prospects for offspring) Men attracted to most fertile women **cultural expectations shape our mate preferences**

Mating Preferences WOMEN PREFER Height Commitment Maturity Ambition Finances ethics MEN PREFER Age Weight Health attractiveness

Breaking Up: Jealousy Males, always uncertain about who fathered their children, have evolved a greater concern for a mate’s sexual infidelity. Males who do not show sexual jealousy risked raising another man’s child, thus losing out on the genetic struggle. Females have evolved a greater concern that their mate will become emotionally attached to another woman. Females who didn’t show emotional- commitment jealousy risked having their mate’s resources diverted to raising another woman’s child. Copy entire slide!

THE END TEST FRIDAY 2/21

Making of Me John Barrowmen Brain Scans NAME: _______________ In my opinion, homosexuality has a Genetic cause because…. Environmental basis because… Has both a genetic& environmental basis because… GIVE AT LEAST 3 FACTS FROM VIDEO TO SUPPORT YOUR OPINION