Sex and gender

• Sex

  refers to the biological and anatomical differences between females and males.
• Example of sex

  Chromosomes: males have XY, females have XX.

  Anatomy: the external genitals/ internal reproductive organs, males have prostate/ sperm ducts, females have fallopian tubes/ the womb.
• Gender

  The psychological term referring to the roles, attitudes and behaviours associated with being male or female. Differ according to the society or culture in which we live in - making gender a social concept.
• Difference between gender and sex

  -Gender is malleable (transsexual), sex is fixed (sex change operation - genes aren't changed but physical appearance is).

  -Sex is assigned at birth, gender is acquired.

  -Sex is universal, gender is cultural.

  -Gender is a social construct, sex is a biological fact.
• Sex-role stereotypes


  A set of ideas that are shared by members of a society or culture about behaviours, traits, qualities and characteristics that are appropriate and expected for males and females - act as a short-cut to appropriate behaviours.
• Sex-role stereotypes are developed through

  -Observation, imitation and reinforcement (SLT).

  -The development of cognitive awareness - development of gender consistency (Kohlberg).

  -Part of the process of internalisation (Freud).

  
  

  Transmitted throughout society and may be reinforced by parents, teachers and the media.
• Smith and Lloyd

  4-6 month old babies were dressed as boys or girls and the adults were observed interacting with the babies.

  When the adults thought the babies were 'boys' they were given a hammer and encouraged to be active. When they were thought to be 'girls' they were handed a doll and reinforced for being passive.
• Furnham and Farragher

  Found that men were likely to be shown in autonomous roles in professional contexts whereas women were shown in familial roles in domestic settings.