Atypical: From Biology to Gender Performance

Quick Review Gender Identity / SexGender Roles / Performance Sexual Orientation

Longitudinal study found that 80.2% of gender non-conforming boys end up being gay. (Green, 1987)

What might a parent/friend/school district do with these scientific findings?

Dr. Vilain points out that genetics does seem to determine some gender role behavior even if it doesn’t, strangely enough, determine gender identity. Can you put this claim in your own words? Why might this be important? What questions do you have about this claim? What questions does it raise?

What happened when boys born with micro-penises were assigned male or female gender identities? What more would you want to know? What questions does this study raise? Why is this important?

Gender Role Behavior Differences Toy Play Aggression Sexual Behavior Verbal Ability Spatial Ability Vision Mathematical Ability Note what is not on this list…

… and, the actual difference is rather quite complicated Men have better spatial abilities than women well…. Men are better at spatial rotation tasks (Chrisler, 1982) But women are better at spatial memory tasks (which is why they may be better at directions!) (Halpern, 2000) And women score worse when told that the test is associated with male-dominated fields and better when playing spatial video games prior to test. - Kaplan, 1987 CAH females (born with extra testosterone in utero) do better on spatial tests as do post-menopausal women (Resnik, 2004) The average boy has better spatial reasoning than the average girl but the worst boy is much lower than the worst girl.

Aggression Average man is more aggressive than the average female but… Men more likely to engage in aggression that results in physical pain; girls more likely to engage in aggression that results in psychological or social harm (called relational aggression) Males are more likely to be proactively aggressive. Males and females have very similar rates of reactional aggression. Women more likely to report feeling guilty about aggressive behavior Males with higher social skills have lower rates of aggression

What about all the Stuff That Has Not Been Found to be Causally Determined by Genetic Sex? Exercise Hair style Grooming Jobs Academics language Musical Taste Clothing Car preferences Snapchatting ? Socializing Self- Esteem

These aspects of our “gender performance” are mutable but they may be governed by a fairly strong set of socially learned codes.

No, No: Yes, Yes

Who Farts? Who Cares?

Performing Gender (some more articles) Do College Boys and Girls Eat Differently Depending on Who Is at the Table with Them?

“Gender” by R.W. Connell (2001) - Different Contexts (places, times, age groups) Have Different Gender Norms and Ideals (also known as Gender Ideologies). These Norms and Ideals help create a general gender “trajectory.”

Within that gender trajectory, individuals make choices and often feel a sense of pleasure in those choices.

A person’s gender “project” is how he or she goes about being themselves while fitting into the gender trajectory. Individuals who achieve this, achieve what Connell calls “gender competence.”

Gender Ideology Problems Some gender norms can have negative consequences – the beauty myth, risk-taking behavior in boys Some gender norms can be unfair / sexist Gender norms and ideals can create stress and anxiety Gender norms can encourage passing and covering

Gender Ideology Positives Gender norms can give a person a sense of importance and belonging Gender norms help facilitate efficient social relationships in family, work, and play Gender norms give you a place to start! Gender norms can, when done right, allow for equality in difference

Your Questions about Gender/Sex/Sexuality

What Aspect of Contemporary Gender Identity Would You Like to Study Next Week? Sexuality and Sexual Behavior on College Campuses Jobs and Gender Wage Gaps Beauty and Body Image The Gendering of Family Roles