Chapter 11 – Sex and Gender

• Sex refers to biological aspects

  • Sex differences are physical

• Gender refers to psychological and sociocultural meanings of biological sex

  • Gender differences are from people’s thinking

• Gender identity is self-defined

• Gender roles are socially defined

  • Social learning theory argues that gender roles develop as children:
    • Reward/punishment for gender role behaviours
    • Watching and imitating the behaviours of others
  • Cognitive development theory argues that children develop gender schemas

Gender differences

Cognitive Abilities

• Females score higher on verbal skills
• Males score higher on math, visual-spatial skills

Aggression

• Males exhibit greater physical aggressiveness
• Females are higher on relational aggression
  • Spreading rumours about others, ignoring or excluding others

Androgyny

• Combining characteristics considered typically male with characteristics considered typically female
• Masculine and androgynous individuals generally have higher self-esteem and creativity, are more socially competent and motivated to achieve, and exhibit better overall mental health

Scientific Study of Sexuality

• Havelock Ellis was among the first physicians to initiate a scientific study of sexuality
  • His studies revealed that nocturnal emissions were not dangerous
  • Ellis later came to promote the dissemination of accurate information on human sexuality
• Alfred Kinsey used surveys and interviews to study sexual practices and beliefs
• Masters and Johnson brought the study of sexuality into the laboratory to study the sexual response cycle

Sexual Activity

• Evolutionary Perspective: Men developed an interest in sex with multiple partners in order to maximize the likelihood of passing on their genes; women seek a good provider
• Social Role Approach: Gender differences reflect cultural roles and division of labor
  • Women prefer resource-rich men, but only when they lived in cultures with little reproductive freedom/educational equality

Sexual Orientation

• Same-sex attraction may reflect the impact of biological factors on sexual orientation
  • Biological factors are supported by twin studies that suggest genetic influence on sexual orientation
• Being gay does not reflect
  • Poor parenting
  • Arrested development/immature personality
  • Childhood seduction by adults
  • Modeling of gay behaviours

Sexual Function

• Sexual behaviour in males and females involves arousal of the peripheral sex organs, the spinal cord, and the brain
  • Factors that modulate activity within any of these regions can impair sexual function
  • Sexual arousal involves activity within the parasympathetic nervous system (allows for blood flow to the sex organs)
  • Sexual orgasm involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system

1. Definition of gender identity
2. Definition of transgender
3. Drag/transvestites
4. What is sexual orientation
5. Gender roles
6. Definition of androgyny
7. Major contributors to today’s knowledge about sexuality
8. How did Kinsey study human sexuality (methods)
9. Masters and Johnson researched what aspects of human sexuality
10. Findings from research on hormones and sexual orientation
11. Definition of sexual dysfunction

Sex Therapy: Masters and Johnson

• Therapy focuses on the relationship
• Therapy integrates physiological and psychosocial factors
• Therapy focuses on cognitive factors
• Therapy focuses on specific behavioural techniques

AIDS

• AIDS is transmitted only through sexual contact or exposure to bodily fluids