Gender

• Sex


  Biological characteristics of a person (genes, chromosomes) that determine whether they are male or female and allow them to reproduce. Sex is innate.
• Gender


  Psychological and cultural differences between males and females, including attitudes, behaviours and social roles. Gender is learned and is more fluid.
• Gender dysphoria


  • When a person's biological sex doesn't match how they feel (their gender). They may decide to have gender reassignment surgery, becoming transgender, to bring their sexual identity with their gender identity.
• Sex-role stereotypes


  A set of expectations or appropriate behaviour for males and females in a society. These expectations are somehow communicated throughout society and may be reinforced by parents, peers, the media, school etc.
• Androgyny


  A balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one personality
• Measuring androgyny


  • The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI): Systematic attempt to measure androgyny using a scale of 60 traits to produce scores on masculinity - femininity + androgynous - undifferentiated
• You can score high M + low F, high F + low M, high low both
• Bem's numerical approach


  • Useful for research purposes e.g. to quantify students and the results corresponded with participants' own description of their gender identity, demonstrating validity
• You can combine different scales e.g. the PAQ with the BSRI, suggesting quantitative with qualitative approaches is useful for studying androgyny
• BSRI developed over 40 years ago
• BSRI made up of stereotypical ideas of masculinity and femininity -> outdated
• BSRI scale devised using people all from the USA
• BSRI is not objective or scientific
• Asking people to rate themselves relies on people having an understanding of their personality and behaviour that they may not have
• Gender is a social construct and more open to interpretation than sex
• The questionnaire's scoring system is subjective
• Hormones


  Chemical substances produced in the body that control or regulate the activity of certain cells or organs
• Testosterone


  A male hormone that controls the development of male sex organs, begins at 8 weeks of foetal development, produced in the testes and small amounts in the ovaries, associated with aggression
• Estrogen


  Primary female hormone important in the development of the menstrual cycle and reproductive system, determines female sex characteristics and menstruation, can cause heightened emotionality and irritability in some women
• Oxytocin


  Stimulates lactation, making it possible for mothers to breastfeed their children, reduces hormone cortisol and facilitates bonding, produced in massive quantities before labour and after childbirth, women typically produce more oxytocin than men
• Evidence for testosterone


  1. Wang et al. (2000) gave 227 hypogonadal men testosterone therapy for 180 days

  2. Testosterone replacement improved sexual libido, function, and mood, and significant increases in muscle strength were observed

  3. O'Connor et al. (2004) increased testosterone levels in healthy young men

  4. There were no significant increases in sexual behaviour of participants

  5. No change in aggression or anger levels either