Chapter 5 Gender and Gender Roles Sex Gender

Chapter 5 Gender and Gender Roles

Sex, Gender, and Gender Roles • Sex: whether one is biologically female, or intersex – Genetic sex: chromosomal and hormonal sex characteristics – Anatomical sex: our physical sex; gonads, uterus, vulva, vagina, or penis • Gender: social and cultural characteristics associated with being male or female • Gender identity: gender one believes self to be

Sex and Gender Identity • • Assigned gender Gender variations Gender identity Gender role

Gender-Roles • Gender-role stereotype • Gender-role attitude – The belief concerning what’s appropriate for male or female traits • Gender-role behavior – Activities or behaviors a person engages in as a female or male

Masculinity and Femininity • Sexes seen as polar opposites in traditional Western view, e. g. “opposite sex” • Different qualities associated with different genders • Sexism • Some qualities are biologically based, some culturally based

Gender and Sexual Orientation • Gender, gender identity, and gender role are conceptually independent of sexual orientation • Heterosexuality has been assumed to be part of masculinity and femininity

Gender Theory • Developed in the ’ 80 s and ’ 90 s to explore the role of gender in society • Seeks to understand society through understanding how its organized by gender • Views gender as a basic element in social relationships

Gender Theory in Psychology • How gender is created and its purposes • How specific traits, behaviors, and roles are defined as male or female • How gender creates advantages and disadvantages • Rejects the idea that gender differences are primarily biologically-driven • Operates from a social-constructivist framework

Theories of Socialization • Social learning theory • Cognitive development theory

Cognitive Social Learning Theory • Emphasizes consequences as shaping gender related behavior • Cognition: Mental processes such as evaluation and reflection – Includes ability to use language – Anticipate consequences – Modeling

Cognitive Development Theory • Focuses on children’s active interpretation of gender • After age 6 or 7, motivation to act like one’s gender is primarily internal, and that gender -role behavior is intrinsic

Social Construction Theory • Gender expression is an outcome of – Power – Language – Meaning • Relationship to sexual orientation – Women – Men

Gender-Role Learning: Childhood and Adolescence • Parents as socializing agents – Manipulation – Channeling – Verbal appellation – Activity exposure – Connections between sons and mothers – Ethnic groups

Gender-Role Learning: Childhood and Adolescence • Teachers as Socializing agents – Females are more common – Bias in presentation of topics • Peers as socializing agents – Play – Approval – Perceptions • Media

Gender Schemas: Exaggerating Differences • Interrelated ideas help information processing • Cognitive organization of world by gender • Emphasize dichotomy • Minimize valuing of the individual

Contemporary Gender Roles • • Women’s roles have changed Must include diverse groups Egalitarian approach to gender roles

Traditional Male Gender Role • Aggressiveness • Emotional toughness • Independence • Feelings of superiority • Decisiveness • • Power orientation Competitiveness Dominance Violence

Traditional Male Sexual Scripts: Zilbergeld – Men should not have or express certain feelings – Performance is the only thing that counts – The man is in charge – A man always wants sex and is ready for it – All physical contact leads to sex – Sex equals intercourse – Sexual intercourse leads to orgasm

Traditional Female Gender Role • American middle-class Whites: women as wives and mothers. Recently includes work outside the home • African Americans: more egalitarian roles for men and women • Latinas: women subordinate to men out of respect; Gender role affected by age

Traditional Female Sexual Scripts: • Sex is good and bad • It’s not okay to touch yourself “down there” • Sex is for men • Men should know what women want • Women shouldn’t talk about sex • Women should look like models • Women are nurturers: they give, men receive • There is only one right way to have an orgasm

Changing Gender Roles • Egalitarian position • Androgyny: flexibility in gender roles, combining elements of each traditional role

Contemporary Sexual Scripts • Sexual expression is positive • Sexual activities involve a mutual exchange of erotic pleasure, and both partners are equally responsible • Legitimate sexual activities are not limited to intercourse but include masturbation and oral sex • Sexual activities may be initiated by either partner • Both partners have a right to experience orgasm, whether through intercourse, oral sex, or manual stimulation • Non-marital sex is acceptable within a relationship context

Androgyny • Unique combination or instrumental and expressive traits • Difficulties with expression and expectation

When Sex is Ambiguous • Intersexuality • Transgenderism

Intersexuality • Possess mixtures of male and female genitalia or reproductive physiology • Known until recently as “hermaphrodites” • Shrouded in secrecy by families and medical establishments in the past

Intersexuality • • Hermaphrodites: Old terminology Ambiguous genitals: 1/2000 births Blended gonads or both gonads One ovary and one testis, or testes containing ovarian tissue

Chromosomal Anomalies: Turner Syndrome • Females who lack a chromosome: XO rather than XX • Occurs in 1/1666 live births • Female external appearance • No ovaries • Hormonal therapy • Assisted fertility

Chromosomal Anomalies: Klinefelter Syndrome • Males who have extra X chromosomes: XXY, XXXY, or XXXXY rather than XY • Occurs in 1/1000 live births • Variable effects; many men never diagnosed. • Small firm testes; some female physical traits • Lower testosterone levels

Hormonal Disorders: Androgen. Insensitivity Syndrome • Inherited condition occurring in 1/13, 000 individuals • Genetic males whose tissues do not respond to testosterone • Female genitals, no female internal organs • At puberty, develops hips and breasts, no pubic hair and no menstruation • Many experience female gender identity

Hormonal Disorders: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia • A genetic female with ovaries and a vagina develops externally as a male • Due to malfunctioning of adrenal gland • Occurs in 1/13, 000 live births – At birth, ambiguous genitalia – In the past, doctors and families choose to assign female gender at birth

Hormonal Disorders: DHT deficiency • • Internal male organs Clitoris-like penis at birth Undescended testes at birth Testes descend at puberty and penis grows • Socialization

Hypospadias • Urethral opening is not in correct location • Exists on underside of glans • Occurs in 1/770 male births • Repair is possible

Gender Identity Disorder • A strong and persistent cross-gender identification and persistent discomfort about one’s assigned sex • Diagnosis not associated as hormonal or physiological • Requires experience of distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning

Gender Identity Disorder • Lasting personal comfort with the gendered self • Treatment is individual and multifaceted – Psychotherapy – Real-life experience living externally as desired gender – Hormonal therapy – Sex-reassignment surgery

Transsexuality • Gender identity and sexual anatomy are not congruent • Estimated 1/50, 000 people over 15 yrs • May occur with heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual orientations • Gender reassignment

Transsexual Phenomenon • Embraces possibility of numerous genders and multiple social identities • Other cultures recognize more than 2 genders • Paradigm shift of gender dichotomy • Employment protection