1. The Role of Chromosomes and Hormones in Sex and Gender

2. Objectives
To be able to apply knowledge of BSRI and androgyny to exam questions.
To be able to outline and evaluate the role of chromosomes and hormones in sex and gender.
To be able to discuss the nature and nurture debate in terms of gender development.

3. Why did Bem (1974) find that androgynous people were more psychologically healthy?
Bem suggested that androgynous people are more comfortable with who they are compared to those who show more conventionally differentiated male or female traits.
Bem argues that it has been usual in Western culture to encourage boys to inhibit the ‘feminine’ side of their personality and girls may learn to inhibit the ‘masculine’ side of their personality. If this does not happen, then the individual can be viewed as ‘abnormal’ (e.g. effeminate).
An advantage of androgyny is that it allows people to handle situations in flexible ways as appropriate. Also androgynous people are not suppressing themselves just to fit in with sex-role stereotypes.

4. The BSRI was based on the views of US Americans in the 1970s
The BSRI was based on the views of US Americans in the 1970s? What are the problems with this?
The inventory was based upon what American students assessed as desirable traits for men and women in the 1970s and therefore has limited validity as a measure of masculinity and femininity in all societies at all times – therefore the scale may be lacking in temporal validity
In addition, the scale was devised using a panel of judges who were all from the USA and their notions of ‘maleness’ and femaleness’ may not be shared across all cultures and all societies

5. Homework questions Explain the difference between sex and gender
Describe two problems with the use of gender stereotypes.
Outline what is meant by androgyny
Give two criticisms of the BSRI

6. Is Nature or Nurture responsible for gender development?
Starter
Is Nature or Nurture responsible for gender development?

7. The Difference between Sex and Gender
Sex - Biologically determined
Gender – Socially constructed
The Berdache - This means that a man could adopt the social role of a woman and vice versa.
Fa’afafine - are male at birth, and explicitly embody both masculine and feminine gender traits.
Kathoey - Thai term that refers to either a transgender woman or an effeminate gay male in Thailand.

9. Prenatal testosterone
Causes the development of male genitalia.
Also influences brain development

16. Until the ninth week of foetus development, the embryonic reproductive apparatus is the same one for the two sexes.
The influence of testosterone triggered by the Y chromosome (SRY gene) begins to form the penis At this stage of development, the testicles are located in the abdomen.
In the absence of the SRY gene of the Y chromosome, there is an absence of testosterone and this along with the influence of oestrogen will cause the female external genitalia to develop

18. How does sex influence brain development?

19. The Role of Hormones
The pituitary gland produces FSH and LH at puberty.
These hormones stimulate the testes and ovaries to produce androgens and oestrogen.
It is the androgens that stimulate the production of pubic hair

20. Hormones
Testosterone – produced by the testes and causes external male genitalia. There is an increase at puberty causes the secondary male sex characteristics.
Oestrogen – At puberty it promotes secondary female sex characteristics.
Oxytocin produced in hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. In stress promotes tend and befriend

21. Research Complete the hormone worksheet using highlighters
Extension – Patrick works as a head baker in a bakery. As part of a work appraisal he completed the BSRI. His score shows he is highly androgynous.
Explain how Patrick’s high level of androgyny might be demonstrated in his behaviour at work (4)

22. Points to Consider
Scoring high on androgyny means that Patrick displays a high level of feminine and masculine traits in roughly equal measure. This can influence his behaviour at work as he may enjoy working with machinery and help out with heavy lifting but equally enjoy the more artistic tasks such as decorating cakes. Patrick may also have a laugh and a bit of rough and tumble with the other men in the bakery but also having meaningful chats with colleagues. He may also be someone that people go to when they have a problem.

23. Patrick will enjoy a laugh and a joke with the other men in the workplace and will also join in with more sensitive/intimate discussions
• Patrick will be firm/authoritative with people in his team and also be sensitive/empathic when someone is unwell or stressed
• Patrick will engage in the heavy work like lifting sacks of flour and will also enjoy the more delicate tasks such as cake decorating and intricate pastry work

26. Evaluation Challenging biological determinism
The role of culture and social influences
Support for the role of prenatal hormones
Support for the role of hormones in later life.
Read the handout and top and tail the research in this area.

27. Atypical Sex Chromosomal Patterns
Klinefelter’s – XXY 1:1000 males.
Lower testosterone levels
Broader hips and breast tissue
Infertile
Taller and less muscular
Low sex drive
Normal male genitalia, small testes

28. KLineflter's
Males
XXY
The male genitalia are normal but the testes are small. There is no sperm production, therefore they are infertile and also have a low sex drive.

29. • in babies and toddlers – learning to sit up, crawl, walk and talk later than usual, being weaker, quieter and more passive than usual
• in childhood – shyness and low self-confidence, problems with reading, writing, spelling and paying attention, mild dyslexia and/or dyspraxia, low energy levels, difficulty socialising or expressing feelings
• in teenagers – growing taller than expected for the family (with long arms and legs), broad hips, poor muscle tone and slower than usual muscle growth, reduced facial and body hair that starts growing later than usual, a small penis and testicles, enlarged breasts (gynaecomastia)
• in adulthood – inability to have children naturally (infertility) and a low sex drive, in addition to the physical characteristics mentioned above

30. Turner’s Syndrome XO (missing X chromosme) 1:2000 females
Vagina and womb
Shorter than average and lack of menstruation.
Underdeveloped ovaries
Small lower jaw and webbed neck, narrow hips.

31. Turner's syndrome Females with a missing X chromosome (X0)
Can be fully missing (classic) or missing in some cells (mosaic)
1:2000
Normal external genitalia but the ovaries fail to develop
Infertile.
Webbed neck

32. Females with Turner syndrome often have a wide range of symptoms and some distinctive characteristics. Almost all girls with Turner syndrome:
• are shorter than average
• have underdeveloped ovaries (female reproductive organs), resulting in a lack of monthly periods and infertility
As height and sexual development are the two main characteristics, Turner syndrome may not be diagnosed until a girl fails to show sexual development associated with puberty, usually between the ages of 8 and 14 years.
Other characteristics of Turner syndrome can vary significantly between individuals.

33. Questions
What is the name of the condition seen in males with XXY sex chromosomes.
Does the research about the Batista family support the role of nature or nurture in terms of gender development?
What role does testosterone play in gender development?
What is the name of the hormone involved in the bonding process?