Gender Poppy Stone
Gender
Sex, Gender and Stereotypes
Sex- it is biological and determined by chromosomes
Sex is innate and the result of nature
‘Sex change’ is not actually a sex change it is known as a gender reassignment
Gender- a persons psychological status as either masculine or feminine
Includes attitudes, roles and behaviours
Gender is a partially environmentally determined so due to nurture
Sex role stereotypes
Shared expectation within a society regarding what is appropriate behaviour for men and
women
Stereotypes are fixed beliefs about a particular group of people e.g., men are strong, and
women are caring
Roles are the behaviours individuals show in a particular situation which are affected by
expectations
Smith and Lloyd-
Researchers individually videotaped a sample of 32 mothers playing with a baby for 10
minutes.
Four babies of 6 months old were used in the study, 2
They dressed the baby as either a boy or girl and gave it a traditional boy or girl name
The mother was able to choose which toy they should play with from a selection
including a hammer, a doll, and a ball
When the mother thought she was playing with a boy, she verbally encouraged more
motor activity than when she thought she was playing with a girl.
In both cases, gender appropriate toys were selected
This shows that children are put under the influence of stereotypes at a very young age
by their environment
Androgyny and the BSRI
Androgyny- A personality type that is characterised by a balance of masculine and feminine trait
Bem-
Developed a method for measuring androgyny the Bem Sex role Inventory (BSRI)
She said those who are highly androgynous are most psychologically healthy and have
high self-worth
BSRI-
o 60 characteristics
o 20 feminine, 20 masculine, 20 neutral
o Respondents rate themselves on a 7 point scale
1
, Gender Poppy Stone
The role of chromosomes and hormones
Role of chromosomes
Genes are short sections of DNA that determine our characteristics
23 pairs of DNA in body and last determines our sex
Females are XX, males are XY
Females sex hormones are oestrogen
Male sex hormones are testosterone
Role of hormones
Chromosomes determine persons sex
Most gender development comes from influence of hormones
Prenatally and puberty
Testosterone
o Male hormone controls development of male sex organs
o Associated with masculinity of the brain and links to aggression
Oestrogen
o Female hormone determines female sexual characteristics and menstruation
o Can cause women to experience heightened emotionally during menstrual cycle
Oxytocin
o Women typically produce this in larger amounts than men as result of giving birth
o Stimulates lactation and reduces stress hormone
o Nicknamed love hormone
o Produced during amorous activities
Atypical sex chromosome pattern
Klinefelter’s syndrome
Biologically male and appearance of a male
Chromosome pattern of XXY
Physical characteristics
o Reduced body hair
o Undeveloped genitals
o Problem with coordination
Psychological characteristics
o Badly developed reading ability
o Tend to be shy and lack interest in sexual activity
o Don’t respond well to stress
Turners’ syndrome
Biologically female
Absence of chromosome so XO
Physical characteristics
o No menstrual cycle
o Physically immature
o Do not develop breasts
Psychological characteristics
2
Gender
Sex, Gender and Stereotypes
Sex- it is biological and determined by chromosomes
Sex is innate and the result of nature
‘Sex change’ is not actually a sex change it is known as a gender reassignment
Gender- a persons psychological status as either masculine or feminine
Includes attitudes, roles and behaviours
Gender is a partially environmentally determined so due to nurture
Sex role stereotypes
Shared expectation within a society regarding what is appropriate behaviour for men and
women
Stereotypes are fixed beliefs about a particular group of people e.g., men are strong, and
women are caring
Roles are the behaviours individuals show in a particular situation which are affected by
expectations
Smith and Lloyd-
Researchers individually videotaped a sample of 32 mothers playing with a baby for 10
minutes.
Four babies of 6 months old were used in the study, 2
They dressed the baby as either a boy or girl and gave it a traditional boy or girl name
The mother was able to choose which toy they should play with from a selection
including a hammer, a doll, and a ball
When the mother thought she was playing with a boy, she verbally encouraged more
motor activity than when she thought she was playing with a girl.
In both cases, gender appropriate toys were selected
This shows that children are put under the influence of stereotypes at a very young age
by their environment
Androgyny and the BSRI
Androgyny- A personality type that is characterised by a balance of masculine and feminine trait
Bem-
Developed a method for measuring androgyny the Bem Sex role Inventory (BSRI)
She said those who are highly androgynous are most psychologically healthy and have
high self-worth
BSRI-
o 60 characteristics
o 20 feminine, 20 masculine, 20 neutral
o Respondents rate themselves on a 7 point scale
1
, Gender Poppy Stone
The role of chromosomes and hormones
Role of chromosomes
Genes are short sections of DNA that determine our characteristics
23 pairs of DNA in body and last determines our sex
Females are XX, males are XY
Females sex hormones are oestrogen
Male sex hormones are testosterone
Role of hormones
Chromosomes determine persons sex
Most gender development comes from influence of hormones
Prenatally and puberty
Testosterone
o Male hormone controls development of male sex organs
o Associated with masculinity of the brain and links to aggression
Oestrogen
o Female hormone determines female sexual characteristics and menstruation
o Can cause women to experience heightened emotionally during menstrual cycle
Oxytocin
o Women typically produce this in larger amounts than men as result of giving birth
o Stimulates lactation and reduces stress hormone
o Nicknamed love hormone
o Produced during amorous activities
Atypical sex chromosome pattern
Klinefelter’s syndrome
Biologically male and appearance of a male
Chromosome pattern of XXY
Physical characteristics
o Reduced body hair
o Undeveloped genitals
o Problem with coordination
Psychological characteristics
o Badly developed reading ability
o Tend to be shy and lack interest in sexual activity
o Don’t respond well to stress
Turners’ syndrome
Biologically female
Absence of chromosome so XO
Physical characteristics
o No menstrual cycle
o Physically immature
o Do not develop breasts
Psychological characteristics
2
