Gender, Sex and Sexuality
AP Psychology
Alice F. Short
Hilliard Davidson High School
Chapter Preview
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Defining Sex and Gender
Theories of Gender Development
Gender Differences
Sexual Orientation
Sexual Behaviors and Practices
Sexual Variations and Disorders
Sexuality and Health and Wellness
• Properties that determine
male or female
– 23rd pair of chromosomes: XY or XX
Defining
Sex
• pair of genes
– gonads = glands (part of endocrine system)
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ovaries (either side of abdomen)
testes (in scrotum, the pouch of skin below the penis)
gonadal hormones: estrogens or androgens
gametes – the ova and sperm  will be used in
reproduction
– internal reproductive structures
– DOCUMENTARY: It’s a Girl
Defining Sex
– external genitalia
• female: vulva
– mons pubis – a fleshy area just above the vagina
– labia – lips surrounding the vaginal opening
– clitoris – a small sensory organ at the top where the labia meet
• male
– penis
– scrotum
– secondary sex characteristics (at puberty) – traits that
differ between the two sexes but are not part of the
reproductive system
• breasts
• facial hair
– sex may not equal psychological experience (gender)
Defining Gender
• gender - social and psychological aspects of being
female or male
– goes beyond biological sex
– includes a person’s understanding of the meaning to
his or her own life of being male or female
• Gender Identity
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masculinity (instrumentality)
femininity (expressiveness)
androgyny (both)
undifferentiated (neither)
Sexual Development
• embryonic development of gonads and genitalia
– SRY gene  testes  androgens  male physiology
– female is “default” condition
• gender differences in regards to the brain
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size of brain parts
function of brain parts
corresponding cognitive function
which part of brain involved in particular behaviors
Sexual Development
• Disorders of Sexual Development
– formerly called intersex conditions / hermaphroditism
– congenitally atypical chromosomal, gonadal, or
anatomical development
– questions of relation of DSD to gender development
• Transgender Experience
– Gender Identity Disorder
• not considered a disorder in France or Great Britain
• gender dysphoria – distress over one’s born sex
• sex reassignment surgery
Gender Development
• Biological Accounts
– behavioral difference in newborns and infants
• Evolutionary Accounts
– selection pressures for gendered behaviors
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competition for mate (usually by male)
preferences/choice for quality mate (usually by female)
reproductive challenges: quality v. quantity
human infants = helpless  adaptive for men to invest in
their offspring
• is it mine? (younger ladies)
Gender Development
• Social Cognitive Accounts
– experience influences sense of gender
– socialization (rewards, punishments, modeling)
– Albert Bandura – modeling is an especially potent
mechanism for transmitting values
– gender schema (mental framework)
– gender-nonconforming behavior
• peers = harsher than family after age 6
– DOCUMENTARY: Miss Representation
• (You can’t be who you can’t see.)
Gender Development
• Social Role Theory
– division of labor
• natural differences become expected/valued differences
• gender roles – expectations for how females and males
should think, act and feel
• gender stereotypes – overly general beliefs and expectations
about what women and men are like
• institutional structures
• patterns of opportunity that perpetuate gender differences
– women have resources  less likely to prefer men with resources
– TED Talks: Sheryl Sandberg
– Summary of Gender and Gender Development
Theories on p. 357
Gender Differences
• Who are more ___________?
• For each adjective on the next slide, answer as
quickly as you can with either “men” or
“women”.
Gender Differences
• Who are more . . .
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assertive
rational
emotional
aggressive
strong
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sexually adventurous
creative
reserved
verbal
active
Gender Differences
• Cognitive Differences
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math and science?
verbal performance (female advantage)
visuospatial ability (male advantage)
general intelligence (no advantage)
• Differences due to:
– social expectations and support v. evolved roles
– gender similarities hypothesis – Janet Shibley Hyde’s
proposition that men and women (and boys and girls)
are much more similar than they are different
Gender Differences
• Differences in Aggression
• overt aggression (physical/verbal harm)
– males more than females
• relational aggression (harm social standing)
– females more than males
– severely damaging psychologically
• why the difference?
– testosterone?
– evolutionary pressures?
– socialization?
• conduct disorder – a pattern of offensive behavior that
violates the basic rights of others (3x more like in boys)
Gender Differences
• Differences in Sexuality (p. 360-361- Inquiry)
– females more selective in regards to casual sex
• “bed” = none, “apartment” = very few, “going out” = 50%
– males more often aroused, stronger sex drive, less fidelity
• “bed” = 75%, “apartment” = 70%, “going out” = 50%
– women more likely to engage in bisexuality or be aroused by
bisexual stimuli; show changes in their sexual patterns/desires
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biological - genetic/hormonal differences
evolutionary - sexual selection
social cognitive - learned behavior
social role - culturally constructed
Sexual Orientation
• sexual orientation - direction of erotic
interests - refers to more than just sexual
behavior
• Orientations: (operational definition matters)
– heterosexual (90% of population)
– homosexual (1500 animal species)
– bisexual
Sexual Orientation
• Orientation is not influenced by…
– being reared by a gay parent
– parenting style
– childhood sexual experimentation
Origins of Sexual Orientation
• Thinking critically about sexual orientation:
– probably not a single cause
– within-group variation
– research challenges such as recruitment
– meaning of cross-sex similarities
– consideration of more than just homosexuality
Sexual Orientation
• Orientation is influenced by
– genetics
– corpus callosum thickness and hemispheric symmetry
– prenatal hormones
• 2D:4D ratio
– women have the same length
– men / “butch” lesbian women have a ring finger longer than their
pointer (male prenatal androgens)
– cognitive factors
– social factors (gender non-conforming behavior)
Gay and Lesbian Functioning
• similarities to heterosexual population
– attitudes, psychological adjustment
• difference from heterosexual population
– hobbies, activities, occupations
• coping with prejudice and discrimination
– 1984: 24% knew someone gay; 2006: 70% knew
someone gay
– Generation Next (1981-1988): 58% homosexuality
should be accepted, just under ½ thought same-sex
marriage should be legal
– coming out
Gay and Lesbian Functioning
• Relationships
– report greater satisfaction than heterosexuals
• kids  reduce happiness / relationship satisfaction
– more likely to end relationships than heterosexuals
• legal tie of marriage  associated with relationship stability
• Families
– less likely to have children
– children of gay couples have not shown differences
from other children
Sexual Behavior
• What constitutes sexual behavior?
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infidelity or loss of virginity
activities involved in reproduction
arousal and sexual response
unusually intimate and personal activity as defined by
the participants
• What do you think constitutes sexual behaviors?
Does that definition change when you think
about cheating?
Sexual Behavior: Kinsey Scale
• Kinsey’s (1948) research
– 12% men, 7% women = bixsexual
– are most people promiscuous or faithful?
• 50% men = unfaithful
• later research: 85% women, 75% men = faithful
Sexual
Behavior
• does marriage decrease sexual activity?
• what percentage of the population are virgins?
– aged 15-44: men 10%, women 8%
– aged 25-44: 3%
• how often do we have sex (on average)? who masturbates the
most?
– men (per month):
• vaginal intercourse: 5 times
• masturbation: 4.5 times
• oral sex: 2 times
– Women (per month)
• vaginal intercourse: 5 times
• masturbation: fewer than 2 times
• oral sex: 2 times
Sexual Response Pattern
• Human Sexual Response Pattern (William Masters and Virginia Johnson)
1. excitement – begins the process of erotic responsiveness
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plateau – continuation and heightening
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increased breathing, pulse rate, blood pressure
penile erection / vaginal lubrication complete
orgasm
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several minutes to several hours
engorgement of blood vessels, increased blood flow to genital areas, partial
penile erection
3-15 seconds
explosive charge of neuromuscular tension
release of neurotransmitter oxytocin
resolution/male refractory period
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blood vessels return to normal state
• Helen Singer Kaplan: initials stage of desire should be added
– some patients lacked sexual desire
Sexual Cognition
• Cognitive factors in sexual behavior
– self-monitoring and self-regulation
– fantasy and imagery
– sexual scripts
Influences on Sexuality
• Influence of Culture
– Inis Beag
– Mangaia
• Sex Education
– abstinence-only v. comprehensive
Sexual Variations and Disorders
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fetishes
paraphilias
pedophilia
disorders of sexual desire/response
– female dysfunction in arousal
– erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation
Sexuality and Health and Wellness
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
– bacterial: gonorrhea, syphilis
– viruses: genital herpes, HIV
• Safe Sex
– abstinence 100% effective
– risk reduction with condom use
• Psychological Well-Being
– sexual activity is predictor of satisfaction in
relationships
Chapter Summary
• Define the terms “sex” and “gender”.
• Explain the biological, evolutionary, socialcognitive, and social role accounts of gender
development.
• Summarize the well-documented gender
differences.
• Describe the similarities and differences among
gays, lesbians, and heterosexuals.
• Discuss sexual variations and disorders.
• Explain how sexuality affects health and wellness.
Chapter Summary
• Defining Sex and Gender
• Theories of Gender Development
– biological
– evolutionary
– social-cognitive
– social roles
• Gender Differences
Chapter Summary
• Sexual Orientation
– influences on sexual orientation
– gay and lesbian functioning and relationships
• Sexual Behavior
– sexual activity
– human sexual response pattern
• Sexual Disorders
• Sexuality and Health and Wellness
– sexually transmitted infections