GENDER ROLES Amber Pittman, Lauren Rozzi, Tyler Streeter, Tiffany Tulowitzki, Jofi Tuzon

ch?v=381belOZreA

Sex, Gender & Gender Roles Sex: refers to the individual's anatomical make-up Genetic Sex: chromosomal & hormonal make-up. (XX, XY etc.) Anatomical Sex: refers to physical sex organs. (Gonads, testes, vulva, vagina etc.) Gender & Sex are commonly used interchangeably. SEX is rooted in the biological make-up of the individual. GENDER is rooted in culture and different perceptions of society.

Gender Identity: an individual’s internal sense of being male or female. Gender Role: attitudes, behaviors, rights and responsibilities that particular groups associate with each sex. (Note: Should be called “Sex Role” b/c we’re looking at the different roles of individuals who are different biologically) Gender Role Stereotype: Overgeneralized belief of how each gender should behave. Gender Role Attitude: beliefs an individual has about him or herself & others regarding male/female personality traits and activities. (Ex: Girls in Extreme Sports or Boys doing ballet) Gender Presentation- perception of others through gesture or personality. Assigned Gender: gender given by others based on genitals, usually at birth.

Our gender development comes from the combination of 3 components: Biological: Genetics & Anatomical make-up Cultural: Gender Distinctions Psychosocial: Assigned Gender & Gender Identity In our culture we learn these 3 components together, they’re taught to us by elders who raise us. Any time we come across someone who doesn’t match the biological, cultural, and psychosocial make-up that a male or female “should have”, we usually become confused because it’s not what we were taught. Gender Variations- Departure from standards and norms regarding gender roles. (Also called: Atypical Behavior, Gender Identity Disorder, Gender Dysplasia)

More on Assigned Gender and Gender Identity Brief Chronological look at Assigned Gender: Birth – 5yrs old (Birth-1 yr.) : We are assigned gender based on genitals, lets others know how to respond to us. We don’t know what we are at first, we learn from how people address us. Age 2: we learn and start to understand male and female, usually by the differences in mom and dad or siblings. Age 3: Start to understand gender from an anatomical point of view, based on our genitals. Age 4-5: Learn stereotypes of both genders and how boys and girls “should act”.

Gender Identity At age 2 we start to understand who we are as males or females. The feeling of femaleness or maleness is our gender identity. Usually gender identity is permanent and congruent with sexual anatomy and assigned gender. In America most parents set the foundation for a child based on their sex by putting them in sports or extracurricular activities with the same sex. Recently there is an increase in parents letting their children choose their gender regardless of their sex. Gender Identity in other countries don’t just teach their young about gender roles and identity. There are ceremonies held where young boys transition into manhood and young girls into womanhood. (Ex: East African Circumcision Ceremonies) Transgender: those who do not conform to traditional notions of gender expression.

Masculinity & Femininity Masculinity and Femininity are created by the culture the individual lives in. Ex.Arapash people of New Guinea – man & woman are both passive and nurturing; males aren’t necessarily the head of the household. The Mundugumor people – man & woman are both aggressive, jealous and want to be the dominant figure. Both are ready to fight at any time. (80 miles away from Arapash) American Culture: Males usually display instrumentality and are tasked oriented while Females embody expressiveness and channel emotion more. Note: not all men and women display these traits. Sexism: Discrimination against someone based on their sex instead of individual merits.

Genders and Sexual Orientation Gender, Gender Role and Gender Identity are conceptually independent of sexual orientation Traditional Beliefs Today Man-->Masculine-->must want female Woman--> Feminine->must want male *these beliefs create stereotypical beliefs about homosexuality* Gay man-->not masculine-->must have female characteristics Lesbian woman-->not feminine-->must have male characteristics *these beliefs see homosexuality as “failure to fill traditional gender role* Real Man--> can’t be gay-->therefore gay men aren’t real men Real woman--> can’t be lesbian--> therefore she’s not a real woman. These negative stereotypes about males and females are known as Heteronormality and usually fuel homophobia. Moral of the section: Be kind, show love & accept everyone.

Gender-Role Learning Theories of Socialization Cognitive social learning theory - behavioral psychology Cognitive development theory - interpretation of messages from the environment

Childhood and Adolescence Socializing Agents Parents Teachers Peers Media

Gender Schemas schema - how we organize knowledge in our thought processes Emotions Behaviors Clothing, colors, toys

Target Move Away from Gender-Based Signs Early influence on children Impact on other retail stores People react negatively

Male Rules and Regulations No feelings, just sex! Tough Emotionless Provider Always ready Performance

Female Rules and Regulations Emotional Supportive Passive Attractive Shhh… Sex isn’t to be discussed

Now Let’s Get Real Men no longer get to have all the fun. Shifts in gender roles and scripts has allowed men to show more emotion and women to be more promiscuous. The ability to express different emotions and take other roles depending on the situation is called ANDROGYNY.

Gender Variations & Transgenderism Transexual? Occasional cross-dresser? Androgynous? We KNOW we are female or male. We may question our femininity or masculinity, but rarely do we question being female or male. For gender-variant individuals, this is a real dilemma.

Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD)/ Intersex Variations in congenital sex anatomy that are considered atypical for females or males (chromosomal abnormalities) Turner syndrome Klinefelter syndrome

Turner Syndrome Usually occurs in females Appear normal externally Absence of ovari Short stature Drooping eyelids Wide and webbed neck No menstruation Sterility

Klinefelter Syndrome 47, XXY One or more extra X chromosomes Many men aren’t diagnosed until they experience fertility issues May cause gynecomastia, the development of breasts in men Small, firm testes

Hormonal Disorders Prenatal hormonal imbalances may cause males or females to develop physical characteristics associated with the opposite sex Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency

More variations to consider... Gender Identity Disorder (GID) A strong and persistent cross-gender identification and persistent discomfort about one's assigned sex Must be clinically significant distress or impairment in important areas of functioning Causes are unknown, suggested hormonal, gene and environmental factors may be involved Transexuality When a person's gender identity and sexual anatomy are not compatible Transsexual individuals are convinced they have been given the body of the wrong sex Generally want to change their sex but but their personality