biological explanations

• Biological perspective

  Sex & gender are interchangeable as they believe sex is innate & as a result of nature.
• Sex chromosomes

  Males = XY, Females = XX Found in the nucleus of living cells. Carry information in the form of genes. 23rd pair = biological matter.
• Typical males

  Male chromosomes are XY. Males produce more testosterone than females. Males have a penis/testes.
• Typical females

  Female chromosomes are XX. Females produce more oestrogen than males. Females have a vagina/ovaries.
• Testosterone

  A hormone from the androgen group that is produced mainly in the male testes (smaller account made in ovaries). Linked to aggression, sexual behaviour & territorial behaviour. Linked to maths skills & spatial awareness.
• Oestrogen

  The primary female hormone plays an important role in the menstrual cycle & reproductive system. Linked with caring & nurturing behaviours. Linked with fine motor skills & good language skills.
• Oxytocin

  A hormone that acts on organs in the body (including the breast & uterus) & as a chemical messenger in the brain, controlling key aspects of the reproductive system, including childbirth & lactation & aspects of human behaviour, eg. love. Women produce more than men. Also known as the love hormone as it facilitates bonding. Also produced during cuddling & sex. Klaus & Kennel - found that mums who got to cuddle their babies more straight after birth had a stronger attachment with them.
• Gender role identity

  Related to genetic sex determined by chromosomes (XX for girls & XY for boys)
• Prenatal development

  1. Sex hormones released

  2. Cause external genetics of foetus & internal reproductive organs to become masculine or feminine

  3. Influence wiring of the brain
• Sex differentiation

  Presence or absence of male hormones makes the difference
• Androgens

  Groups of hormones that play a role in male traits, eg. testosterone
• Androgens in male foetus

  1. Stimulate development of male sex characteristics

  2. Have a masculinizing effect on the brain of the developing boy
• David Reimer

  A twin boy who had his penis burnt off under a routine circumcision when he was 8 months
• Sex change procedure

  1. Dr. Money suggested the parents change the sex of the boy through surgery, hormone replacement & raise him as a girl

  2. Brenda was told the truthat age 15

  3. Brenda decided to become a male again & had reconstructive surgery to create a penis
• David Reimer claimed he always felt like a male which suggests sex chromosomes have a powerful effect on gender identities
• Weaknesses - David Reimer 


  Atypical case of just one person, so may not be representative so can't generalise. Low internal validity. Case study so lack of control - unsure if David's parents interacted with him in a more masculine way than they realised. SLT argues that a child learns their gender through interaction with their environment. Positive reinforcement from parents & some sex role models. Increasing gender equality & changing stereotypes.
• Strengths - David Reimer

  Cases of GID have been linked with genetics - Heylans found that if one twin has GID then there was a higher concordance rate for the other twin having GID if they were MZ twins. The androgen receptor gene has been linked with male to female GID. Body can't process androgen (testosterone) so body & brain doesn't wire up in a masculine way.
• Against biological explanations - Trickler


  43 males were given either: -> a weekly shot of testosterone or a placebo. No significant difference in aggression. Biological factors alone are not responsible for gender.
• Biological explanations - criticisms

  Too deterministic - assumes that genetics & biological factors are enough to provide a sufficient explanation for sex & gender. SLT takes a softer deterministic - recognises the powerful influences that role models such parents can have in shaping our gender identity.