SEX, GENDER

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CHAPTER 5

• SEX, GENDER BODIES

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BIOLOGICAL SEX

• Biological sex has been traditionally defined as
  two reproductive forms within a species,
  characterized by female or male specialized
  reproductive structures, organs and hormones that
  result in different roles in reproduction

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SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION IN VITRO

• Each human being has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs)
• 1 of each pair comes from each parent
• 22 pairs are autosomes (chromosomes other than
  those that determine sex)
• The 23rd pair are sex chromosomes. These can be
  either X chromosomes or Y chromosomes.
• Genetically, female is defined as a person with
  two X chromosomes. Male is defined as someone who
  has an X and a Y
• At conception, the embryo receives an X
  chromosome from the mother and either an X or a Y
  from the biological father
• Approximately six weeks after conception, male
  fetuses begin to differentiate, developing gonads
  that will later be testes, and that will
  eventually (after puberty) produce sperm.

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What we know about female development

• Reproductive biologists have done little research
  historically into parallel processes in the
  development of female fetuses, assuming female to
  be the default outcome when there is a lack of a
  Y chromosome. Based on this assumption little
  research was done on female fetal development
  until recently.
• Females gonads develop into ovaries, which
  contain eggs. The female structures of vagina,
  labia and clitoris develop prior to the formation
  of the ovaries. By week 12-14 of pregnancy, the
  female fetus has a uterus, ovaries, fallopian
  tubes, vagina, labia and clitoris

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Biological sex as a continuum

• Assigned sex based on anatomical appearance of
  the genitals at birth
• What if the appearance of the newborns genitalia
  is ambiguous?

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Intersex Individuals

• Some individuals are born with inconsistent
  sexual components, either physiologically or
  genetically falling outside of dichotomous norms
• CAIS (complete androgen insensitivity syndrome)
  XY chromosomes but insensitive to androgen, no
  external male genitalia, no ovaries or uterus,
  but estrogen produced breasts and body curves
  associated with a female body, but internal
  testes present
• As recently as 2000, only women Olympians were
  tested
• Women with extra Y chromosome were denied
  participation, even though there was no evidence
  that sex chromosomes affect sports prowess (Maria
  Patinos 1988 Olympic disqualification)
• Turners Syndrome XO chromosomes. External
  genitalia appear female, raised as girls, given
  hormones at puberty to stimulate breasts. Short
  in stature, they also have spatial visualization
  deficits, the cause of which is undetermined as
  yet

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Gender Identity

• Core gender identity is a fundamental sense of
  belonging to a particular sex, generally by age 3
• Assumption that core gender identity and sex
  should be congruent
• Gender Identity Disorder gender identity doesnt
  agree with biological sex
• Transsexual hormonal surgical transition to
  align physical appearance with gender identity

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ISNA Intersex Society of North America

• Abolish all cosmetic surgery on infants
• Surgery has traditionally been based on
  physicians ability to construct an adequate
  genital appearance and function
• Consider the implications of waiting until the
  child has developed a core gender identity?

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Cultural Differences

• Berdache (Native American) Biological males in a
  third alternative gender role, often conferred by
  religious authorities before puberty. Often
  involved in creative arts and crafts, wore male
  female clothing mixed
• Hijiras (Northern India) Defined by impotence
  with women, inability to reproduce. They wear
  womens clothing, use womens names, but enjoy
  some male privileges like smoking and cursing in
  public

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Cultural Differences

• Pledged virgins (rural Albania) Social males who
  may serve in the military, gain legal and social
  status
• Gender-blending women
• Billy Tipton, who lived and married as a man but
  was genetically a woman, or
• Pat from Saturday night Live?
• Different stigma attached to gender-blending
  malesWHY?