Sexual and Gender Identity

1
Sexual and Gender Identity Sexual and Gender
Disorders
2
Main Ideas

• What is gender identity?
• How does gender identity develop?
• Theories of gender development.

3
Important Vocabulary

• Sex- Male/female-based upon chromosomes (xx or
  xy) Whats between your legs.
• Gender- Cultural, social, and psychological
  meanings associated with masculinity or
  femininity. Whats between your ears.
• Gender Identity- a persons psychological sense
  of being male or female.
• Sexual Orientation- a person's emotional,
  romantic, and sexual attraction to individuals
  of a particular sex (not a preference). Whats
  in your heart.
• They prefer pizza boys to chocolate girls???

4
Sex
5
Gender
6
Sexual Orientation
7
Biological correlates of sexual orientation

• Evidence strongest in males
• Gays lesbians fall in between straight males
  females
• 1. Brain differences
• One hypothalamic cell cluster larger in straight
  males than females and gay males
• Anterior commissure is larger in gay males than
  females or straight males
• Gay males hypothalamus reacts the same as females
  to smell of sex related hormones

8
Biological correlates of sexual orientation
(contd.)

• 2. Genetic Influences
• Shared sexual orientation is higher among
  identical twins than fraternal twins
• Sexual orientation in fruit flies can be
  genetically manipulated
• 3. Pre-hormonal Influences
• Altered prenatal hormone exposure may lead to
  homosexuality in humans other animals
• Males with several older brothers more likely to
  be homosexual
• These three differences/influences may contribute
  to observable gay-straight differences in
• Spatial ability Fingerprint ridge counts
• Handedness Occupational preferences
• Relative finger length Gender nonconformity, etc.

9
Important Vocabulary

• Gender Roles- behaviors, attitudes, and
  personality traits designated as
  masculine/feminine.
• Gender Stereotypes- oversimplified beliefs about
  male/female behavior
• Gender Schema- cluster of physical qualities,
  behaviors, and personality traits associated
  w/one sex.
• Modeling- Social learning through observation
  and imitation of others. (Banduras Bobo doll)

10
Gender Roles
11
Gender Stereotypes
12
(No Transcript)
13
Development of Gender Identity (Bee 1998)

• Gender identity 1-3 yrs
• Gender stability 3 - 4 yrs
• Gender constancy 5 - 6 yrs

14
Gender Development Theories
15
Gender Schema Theory

• Links cognitive development with social learning
  theory in the sense that schemas are socialised
  cognitive networks of sex gender roles
• People with high gender schemas are more prone to
  stereotypic perception behaviour
• High schemas facilitate the creation of cognitive
  heuristics (gender stereotypes gender values)

16
Social Learning Theory

• Almost from birth children are treated in gender
  specific ways (e.g. birthday cards, toys,
  dress)
• Parents society reinforce gender specific
  behaviours attitudes
• Boys and girls imitate males females
  respectively

17
Social Learning Theory
18
http//www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Di
d-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html
19
(No Transcript)
20
Identity Constructed Theory

• Bee (1998) suggests 3 stages
• This theory emphasises the individuals sense of
  commitment to a gender category.
• The gender category may conflict with social
  norms (McManus 1999) - may lead to gender
  dysphoria

21
Enculturated-Lens Theory

• Development of gender identity is embedded in
  socio-historical context of each culture
• Culture operates as lens through which gender
  identity gender roles are defined passed on
  as memes of behaviour
• Memes-A unit of cultural information, such as a
  cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted
  verbally or by repeated action from one mind to
  another
• Androgyny is the socialised freedom to identify
  with male or female roles (Bem 1993).

22
(No Transcript)
23
Enculturated-Lens Theory
24
(No Transcript)
25
Biological Theory

• Biologists argue that males with Klinefelters
  syndrome (males with extra xxxy) females with
  Turners syndrome (females with a damaged/missing
  x) may have a very different gender identity
• Intersexed infants (born with both male female
  genitals) may have to decide which gender
  category they belong
• Hermaphrodites
• http//www.angelfire.com/ca2/BornHermaphrodite/

26
Biological Theory contd.

• Biological characteristics may partly explain
  gender differences
• Hormonal activities tend to influence mind and
  body (e.g. aggression emotionality)
• Estrogen (associated with xx) may be a protective
  hormone associated with longevity
• Estrogen may also be associated with the slow
  processing of alcohol quicker intoxication

27
(No Transcript)
28
Gender Identity Disorder

• Gender Dysmorphic - those unhappy with their
  anatomical sex who wish to be of the opposite
  sex
• A male with GID experiences his sexual interest
  in men as a conventional heterosexual orientation
• Doesnt consider himself homosexual, instead, a
  female trapped in a mans body
• Biological studies (e.g., hormones, chromosomal
  abnormalities) have been inconclusive
• In children with GID, parents are more accepting
  of their cross-gender behavior

29
(No Transcript)
30
Gender dysmorphic
31
(No Transcript)
32
The Paraphilias (the experience of intense
sexual arousal to atypical objects, situations,
or individuals.)

• Fetishism - reliance on an inanimate object for
  sexual arousal
• Transvestic Fetishism - a man who is aroused by
  dressing in womens clothing, although he still
  regards himself as a man (usually heterosexual)
• Pedophilia - adults, usually men, who derive
  sexual gratification exclusively through
  physical and often sexual contact with
  prepubertal children
• 95 of known Pedophiles are heterosexual
• Voyeurism- arousal from observing an
  unsuspecting person who is disrobing, naked, or
  engaged in sexual activity

33
Fetishism
34
Transvestic Fetishism
35
Voyeurism
36
The Paraphilias (unusual sexual fantasies,
urges, or behaviors)

• Exhibitionism-sexual arousal by exposing ones
  genitals to shocked strangers.
• Frotteurism- sexual arousal from touching and
  rubbing against a nonconsenting person (crowds,
  bus, subway car, etc.)
• Sexual Sadism- arousal from intentionally
  inflicting psychological or physical suffering
  on another person.
• Sexual Masochism- arousal in response to being
  humiliated, beaten, bound, or made to suffer.
• BDSM-bondage, domination, sado-masochism

37
Exhibitionism
38
Frotteurism
39
Sexual Sadism
40
Sexual Masochism
41
Pop culture related