Atypical gender development

• What is gender dysphoria?

  When biological sex given at birth is not matched to the individuals‘ psychological view of their gender and as a result experience stress & discomfort
• What are the 2 types of explanation of gender dysphoria?

  Biological

  Social
• What is the biological explanation of gender dysphoria?

  Brain sex theory
• What does brain sex theory suggest?

  BST structure in the brain is responsible for emotional responses and male sex characteristics so its size not matching the biological sex is what causes gender dysphoria
• How is the size of the BST in transgender women?

  The BST was the size of a female BST despite being biologically male
• How is the size of the BST in transgender men?

  The BST was the size of a male BST despite being biologically female
• Who did research to show the genetic factors involved in gender dysphoria?

  Heylens et al
• What did Heylens et al do ?

  Twin study with one of the pair having gender dysphoria
• What did Heylens ET al find?

  39% concordance rate for Mz twins

  0% concordance rate for Dz twins
• What are the 2 social explanations for gender dysphoria?

  Social constructionism

  Psychoanalytical theory
• What is social constructionism?

  The concept that gender is entirely invented by society
• How does social constructionism define gender dysphoria?

  Confusion caused by society forcing individuals to decide between binary options of gender (male or female)
• Who did case studies in support of social constructionism theory for gender dysphoria?

  McClintock
• What was McClintock’s case study?

  Studied girls with genetic anomaly so that at puberty developed male genetalia.
• What did McClintock’s case study find?

  The genetic variation for females becoming male was common in Sambia so became a 3rd gender type that was no judged or discriminated against until after globalisation
• Why do biological males end up internalising their mothers identity?

  Fear of separation from mother leads to them having fantasies of symbiotic fusion with their mothers so are overly attached
• What is research against the biological explanation of gender dysphoria?

  MRIs of transgender individuals taking hormones.

  Shown that BST size grows as the longer hormones are taken.
• What do the MRI results mean for the brain sex theory of gender dysphoria?

  BST is not different from birth and instead is a result of the treatments for gender dysphoria so cannot accurately explain gender dysphoria
• What the issues with research into gender dysphoria being a socially sensitive topic?

  It could lead to negative stereotypes being reinforced for those with gender dysphoria as they are being labelled.

  Better if they weren‘t classified
• What is the strength of researching a socially sensitive topic like gender dysphoria?

  Leads to individuals being able to recognise their own issues as there is more awareness.

  Can then seek relevant treatments and improve quality of life.
• What is a positive of social explanations of gender dysphoria?

  It explains cultural differences and changes over time.

  Such as the increase of individuals subscribing to non-binary identity recently as it shows binary genders weren’t enough and as society changes to have other genders people feel more comfortable
• What is the issue with the psychoanalytical explanation of gender dysphoria?

  It fails to mention transgender women.

  It maybe absence of the father causing internalisation of mother’s identity not fear of separation
• What do the issues with the psychoanalytical explanation mean for its ability to explain gender dysphoria?

  It is not comprehensive enough to give a true contribution in understanding gender dysphoria as it lacks in depth research and concrete theories