“Outline and evaluate the explanations of gender
dysphoria”
A01 –
Gender dysphoria – describes an individual’s experience of feeling
uncomfortable with the gender assigned to them at birth – may lead to sex
change operation or gender reassignment.
Gender identity disorder (GID) – a psychiatric classification for people
experiencing gender dysphoria
Biological explanations
Mismatch between hormones and genetic sex – prenatal hormone
levels may be affected by genetic conditions and this may lead to a
mismatch between hormones and genetic sex. Androgen Insensitivity
Hormone (AIH) = male → female
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) = female → male
Transsexual gene – HARE looked at DNA of 112 male to female
transsexuals and found they were more likely to have a longer version of
the androgen receptor gene than in the normal sample.
The brain-sex theory of transsexualism – based on idea that
transsexuals brains don’t match their genetic sex. On average, BSTc (area
of brain) in heterosexual men 2x bigger than heterosexual women.
Perhaps size of BSTc correlates with preferred sex rather than genetic sex.
Environmental effects – not all biological causes are internal,
environmental pollution could cause problems. E.g. insecticide DDT
contain oestrogens which may mean males are prenatally exposed to high
levels of female hormones, causing mismatch between genetic sex and
hormones.
A02 –
RESEARCH 1 – Dessens et al
POINT – contradicts biological explanation of gender dysphoria in terms of
prenatal hormonal abnormalities
EVIDENCE – studied 250 genetic females with CAH who were raised as females.
Found despite prenatal exposure to male hormones, 95% were content with their
female gender role. Only 5% experienced GID.
EXPLAIN – it shows how genetic females who were prenatally exposed to male
hormones were content with their gender if they had been raised as girls –
meaning that it discredits the influence of prenatal hormones in the development
of GID
EVALUATE – strength - good sample size – greater population validity so more
generalizable – strengthens criticism
RESEARCH 2 – Chung et al
POINT – contradicted biological explanation of gender dysphoria in terms of
brain-sex theory
EVIDENCE – noted that the differences in BSTc volume between men and
women does not develop until adulthood, whereas most transsexuals report that
their feelings of gender dysphoria began in early childhood
EXPLAIN – suggests that the difference found in BSTc could not be the cause of
transsexualism but may be an effect
dysphoria”
A01 –
Gender dysphoria – describes an individual’s experience of feeling
uncomfortable with the gender assigned to them at birth – may lead to sex
change operation or gender reassignment.
Gender identity disorder (GID) – a psychiatric classification for people
experiencing gender dysphoria
Biological explanations
Mismatch between hormones and genetic sex – prenatal hormone
levels may be affected by genetic conditions and this may lead to a
mismatch between hormones and genetic sex. Androgen Insensitivity
Hormone (AIH) = male → female
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) = female → male
Transsexual gene – HARE looked at DNA of 112 male to female
transsexuals and found they were more likely to have a longer version of
the androgen receptor gene than in the normal sample.
The brain-sex theory of transsexualism – based on idea that
transsexuals brains don’t match their genetic sex. On average, BSTc (area
of brain) in heterosexual men 2x bigger than heterosexual women.
Perhaps size of BSTc correlates with preferred sex rather than genetic sex.
Environmental effects – not all biological causes are internal,
environmental pollution could cause problems. E.g. insecticide DDT
contain oestrogens which may mean males are prenatally exposed to high
levels of female hormones, causing mismatch between genetic sex and
hormones.
A02 –
RESEARCH 1 – Dessens et al
POINT – contradicts biological explanation of gender dysphoria in terms of
prenatal hormonal abnormalities
EVIDENCE – studied 250 genetic females with CAH who were raised as females.
Found despite prenatal exposure to male hormones, 95% were content with their
female gender role. Only 5% experienced GID.
EXPLAIN – it shows how genetic females who were prenatally exposed to male
hormones were content with their gender if they had been raised as girls –
meaning that it discredits the influence of prenatal hormones in the development
of GID
EVALUATE – strength - good sample size – greater population validity so more
generalizable – strengthens criticism
RESEARCH 2 – Chung et al
POINT – contradicted biological explanation of gender dysphoria in terms of
brain-sex theory
EVIDENCE – noted that the differences in BSTc volume between men and
women does not develop until adulthood, whereas most transsexuals report that
their feelings of gender dysphoria began in early childhood
EXPLAIN – suggests that the difference found in BSTc could not be the cause of
transsexualism but may be an effect
