SEO HC 6
Sex and gender
Lecture outline
Introduction: Importance of the issue and definitions
When and how are gender roles and identities acquired?
A brief review of some theories
The role of hormones in understanding gender differences in behavior
Main focus of the lecture
The role of prenatal (organizational) hormones and pubertal (activational) hormones
on understanding gender differences and sex-linked behavior.
Why study sex and gender?
We like to order difficult concepts.
One's sex is one of the most salient characteristics that is presented to other people.
Who one is as a male or female becomes a significant part of one's overall identity.
Gender is an important mediator of human experiences and the way in which
individuals interact with each other and the physical environment. (friends, toys,
classes, and vocation)
The study of sex, gender development, and sex differences becomes the focal point
for understanding the role of nature and nurture in development
o A lot of debate about the role of nature and nurture in gender development
o Conclusion: it’s both, there is an interaction. But, in research, we often look at
one of them.
The issue of gender and sex is complex
Non-Gendered “Kids” department Hema (started at end of 2017)
https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/hema-gaat-alleen-noggenderneutrale-kinderkleding-
verkopen~a0fcaffc/
Sire-campagne: Laat jongens jongens zijn other pespective!
https://www.trouw.nl/home/sire-campagne-laat-jongensjongens-zijn~aea1da9a/
Sex and Gender
Sex (Biological construct)
Refers to the functional differences between males and females and their
reproductive potential
o Determined by genes in chromosomes
o Male and female are biological terms
o Genetic sex denotes chromosomes (xy & xx)
o Anatomical sex denotes the physical sex features (reproductive anatomy)
o Hormones
determines birth-assigned male or female gender
Sex and Gender
Gender (Social construct)
“The attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a
person’s biological sex.” (APA, 2011).
“A person’s self concept of the gender (regardless of their biological sex).” (Lev,
2004)
Determined by biological, psychological and sociological factors (roles,
stereotypes, cultural differences, generational differences)
, SEO HC 6
Masculine (instrumental) and feminine (expressive) are psychological terms which
refer to a person's gender-related personality characteristics and behaviors
Androgynous: having both characteristics
Man/woman/masculine/feminine/nonbinary/genderfluid/transgender/agender/
bigender/pangender/cisgender/transgender/genderqueer
How do you express your gender?
Gender issues are complex …
Not one way, or another way across the world (cultural differences)
Should bathrooms be gender neutral?
How do we develop our gender identity, roles, and behaviors?
Gender identity – knowledge that one is either a boy or girl and that gender is
unchanging (generally speaking)
Gender-role stereotypes (standards) – societal expectations for appropriate female
and male behavior
Gender-typed behaviors – tendencies to select behaviors that are associated with
one’s gender
o We are more okay with girls being tomboys than boys acting girly.
, SEO HC 6
Sexual Orientation versus Sexual Identity
Sexual orientation is who we are attracted to (sexually or romantically) homo, hetero,
bi/pan sexual, queer, asexual
Sexual identity – the label that people adopt to signify to others who they are as a
sexual being, particularly regarding sexual orientation.
Complication: definition depends on one’s gender and who you are attracted to
But:
What if you are intersexed (born with ambiguous sex in terms of hormones, anatomy
and chromosomes)?
What if you are attracted to transgender people or intersexed people?
Text book: Seven Major Theories
1. Evolutionary Theories
2. Biosocial theories (nature and nurture)
3. Psychoanalytic Theories
4. Social-Learning Theory
5. Cognitive-developmental Theory
6. Gender-Schema Theory
7. An integrative Theory
Social-Learning Theory
Emphasis on the power of the immediate situation and observable behaviors
Two ways children learn their gender roles:
o Receiving rewards or punishments for specific gender role behaviors
o Watching and imitating behavior of others
Children imitate the same-sex parent
Child does not feel guilt or anxiety over a supposed attraction to the other-sex parent
Socialization is one of the major causes of gender differences.
Children are encouraged to do the appropriate sex-typed activities by the following:
o Parents
Traditional roles feed to children in traditional families
o Media
Portrays traditional roles for females and males
Female is still placed in the traditional domestic role
o Schools
Sex and gender
Lecture outline
Introduction: Importance of the issue and definitions
When and how are gender roles and identities acquired?
A brief review of some theories
The role of hormones in understanding gender differences in behavior
Main focus of the lecture
The role of prenatal (organizational) hormones and pubertal (activational) hormones
on understanding gender differences and sex-linked behavior.
Why study sex and gender?
We like to order difficult concepts.
One's sex is one of the most salient characteristics that is presented to other people.
Who one is as a male or female becomes a significant part of one's overall identity.
Gender is an important mediator of human experiences and the way in which
individuals interact with each other and the physical environment. (friends, toys,
classes, and vocation)
The study of sex, gender development, and sex differences becomes the focal point
for understanding the role of nature and nurture in development
o A lot of debate about the role of nature and nurture in gender development
o Conclusion: it’s both, there is an interaction. But, in research, we often look at
one of them.
The issue of gender and sex is complex
Non-Gendered “Kids” department Hema (started at end of 2017)
https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/hema-gaat-alleen-noggenderneutrale-kinderkleding-
verkopen~a0fcaffc/
Sire-campagne: Laat jongens jongens zijn other pespective!
https://www.trouw.nl/home/sire-campagne-laat-jongensjongens-zijn~aea1da9a/
Sex and Gender
Sex (Biological construct)
Refers to the functional differences between males and females and their
reproductive potential
o Determined by genes in chromosomes
o Male and female are biological terms
o Genetic sex denotes chromosomes (xy & xx)
o Anatomical sex denotes the physical sex features (reproductive anatomy)
o Hormones
determines birth-assigned male or female gender
Sex and Gender
Gender (Social construct)
“The attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a
person’s biological sex.” (APA, 2011).
“A person’s self concept of the gender (regardless of their biological sex).” (Lev,
2004)
Determined by biological, psychological and sociological factors (roles,
stereotypes, cultural differences, generational differences)
, SEO HC 6
Masculine (instrumental) and feminine (expressive) are psychological terms which
refer to a person's gender-related personality characteristics and behaviors
Androgynous: having both characteristics
Man/woman/masculine/feminine/nonbinary/genderfluid/transgender/agender/
bigender/pangender/cisgender/transgender/genderqueer
How do you express your gender?
Gender issues are complex …
Not one way, or another way across the world (cultural differences)
Should bathrooms be gender neutral?
How do we develop our gender identity, roles, and behaviors?
Gender identity – knowledge that one is either a boy or girl and that gender is
unchanging (generally speaking)
Gender-role stereotypes (standards) – societal expectations for appropriate female
and male behavior
Gender-typed behaviors – tendencies to select behaviors that are associated with
one’s gender
o We are more okay with girls being tomboys than boys acting girly.
, SEO HC 6
Sexual Orientation versus Sexual Identity
Sexual orientation is who we are attracted to (sexually or romantically) homo, hetero,
bi/pan sexual, queer, asexual
Sexual identity – the label that people adopt to signify to others who they are as a
sexual being, particularly regarding sexual orientation.
Complication: definition depends on one’s gender and who you are attracted to
But:
What if you are intersexed (born with ambiguous sex in terms of hormones, anatomy
and chromosomes)?
What if you are attracted to transgender people or intersexed people?
Text book: Seven Major Theories
1. Evolutionary Theories
2. Biosocial theories (nature and nurture)
3. Psychoanalytic Theories
4. Social-Learning Theory
5. Cognitive-developmental Theory
6. Gender-Schema Theory
7. An integrative Theory
Social-Learning Theory
Emphasis on the power of the immediate situation and observable behaviors
Two ways children learn their gender roles:
o Receiving rewards or punishments for specific gender role behaviors
o Watching and imitating behavior of others
Children imitate the same-sex parent
Child does not feel guilt or anxiety over a supposed attraction to the other-sex parent
Socialization is one of the major causes of gender differences.
Children are encouraged to do the appropriate sex-typed activities by the following:
o Parents
Traditional roles feed to children in traditional families
o Media
Portrays traditional roles for females and males
Female is still placed in the traditional domestic role
o Schools
