Download CHAPTER 14 GENDER AND SEXUALITY I. Sexual Development A

CHAPTER 14 GENDER AND SEXUALITY
I. Sexual Development
A. Female or Male
1. Terminology
a. sex – one’s biological classification as female or male
b. gender – psychological and social characteristics associated with
being male or female; defined especially by one’s gender identity and
learned gender roles
c. primary sexual characteristics – sex as defined by the genitals
and internal reproductive organs
d. secondary sexual characteristics – sexual features other than the
genitals and reproductive organs—breasts, body shape, facial hair, and so
forth
e. menarche – the onset of menstruation; a woman’s first menstrual
period
f. ovulation – release of an ovum (egg cell) by the ovaries; ova
combine with sperm cells to begin the growth of an embryo
g. menopause – an end to regular monthly menstrual periods
2. Sex Hormones
a. gonads – primary sex glands—the testes in males and ovaries in
females
b. estrogen – any of a number of female sex hormones
c. androgen – any of a number of male sex hormones, especially
testosterone
d. testosterone – a male sex hormone, secreted mainly by the testes
and responsible for the development of many male sexual characteristics
3. Dimensions of Sex
a. genetic sex – sex as indicated by the presence of XX (female) or
XY (male) chromosomes
b. gonadal sex – sex as indicated by the presence of ovaries
(female) or testes (male)
c. hormonal sex – sex as indicated by a preponderance of estrogens
(female) or androgens (male) in the body
d. genital sex – sex as indicated by the presence of male or female
genitals
e. gender identity – one’s personal, private sense of maleness of
femaleness
B. Prenatal Sexual Development
1. Terminology
a. X chromosome – the female chromosome contributed by the
mother; produces a female when paired with an X chromosome. Fathers
1
may give either an X or a Y chromosome to their offspring
b. Y chromosome – the male chromosome contributed by the
father; may give either an X or Y and produces a male when Y is paired
with an X chromosome and female when X is paired with an X.
c. Androgen insensitivity – an inherited disorder in which male
embryos fail to develop male genitals because of an unresponsiveness to
testosterone and female development occurs
d. Hermaphroditism – having genitals suggestive of both sexes;
ambiguous genital sexuality
e. androgenital syndrome – an inherited disorder that causes the
adrenal glands to produce excess androgens, sometimes masculinizing
developing females before birth
2. Origins of Male-Female Differences
a. biological biasing effect – hypothesized effect that prenatal
exposure to sex hormones has on development of the body, nervous
system, and later behavior patterns
3. Gender Identity
a. gender role socialization – process of learning gender behaviors
considered appropriate for one’s sex in a given culture
C. Gender Roles – pattern of behaviors that is regarded as “male” or “female” by
one’s culture; sometimes also referred to as a sex role
1. Culture
a. gender role stereotypes – oversimplified and widely held beliefs
about the basic characteristics of men and women
D. Gender Role Socialization
1. “Female” and “Male” Behavior
a. instrumental behaviors – behaviors directed toward the
achievement of some goal; behaviors that are instrumental in producing
some effect
b. expressive behaviors – behaviors that express or communicate
emotion or personal feelings
II. Androgyny
A. Psychological Androgyny
1. Bem Sex Role Inventory – list of 60 personal traits including
“masculine,” “feminine,” and “neutral” traits; used to rate one’s degree of
androgyny – Bem believes that a complex society requires flexibility as the
situation requires (healthier)
2. androgyny – the presence of both “masculine” and “feminine” traits in a
single person (as masculinity and femininity are defined within one’s culture)
B. Adaptability – androgynous individuals are more adaptable; less stress
2
III. Sexual Behavior
A. Erogenous zones – areas of the body that produce pleasure and/or provoke
erotic desire; brain is the ultimate erogenous zone
B. Sexual Arousal
1. Sexual Scripts – an unspoken mental plan that defines a “plot,”
dialogue, and actions expected to take place in a sexual encounter
2. Sex Drive – strength of one’s motivation to engage in sexual behavior
a. nocturnal orgasm – an orgasm that occurs spontaneously during
sleep or dreaming
b. castration – surgical removal of the testicles or ovaries; at first
variable results (that’s why it’s not likely to change behavior in sex
offenders, but after several years a reported decrease in sex drive occurs)
c. sterilization – medical procedures such as vasectomy or tubal
litigation that make a man or a woman infertile; reported no loss in sex
drive
3. Masturbation – producing sexual pleasure or orgasm by directly
stimulating the genitals
a. seen in infants less than one year
b. males report 95% participation & women 89%
c. appropriate role in healthy development in that it provides a
healthy substitute for sexual involvement at a time when young people
are maturing emotionally
d. relationship between frequency of masturbation and sexual
intercourse; related to assessment for sexual behaviors
e. harm? Blindness? Acne? Safer sex?
IV. Sexual Orientation – one’s degree of emotional and erotic attraction to members of
the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes
A. Terminology
1. heterosexual – a person romantically and erotically attracted to
members of the opposite sex
2. homosexual – a person romantically and erotically attracted to same-sex
persons
3. bisexual – a person romantically and erotically attracted to both men
and
women
B. Homosexuality
1. homophobia – powerful fear of homosexuality
2. heterosexism – belief that heterosexuality is better or more natural than
homosexuality
3
V. Human Sexual Response
A. Masters and Johnson’s Research
1. excitement phase – 1st phase of sexual response, indicated by
initial signs of sexual arousal
2. plateau phase – 2nd phase of sexual response, during which
physical arousal is further heightened
3. orgasm – a climax and release of sexual excitement
4. resolution – 4th phase of sexual response, involving a return to
lower levels of sexual tension and arousal
B. Female Response
1. Figure 14.10, p. 460
2. “Vaginal” vs. “ Clitoral” orgasm
3. Freud’s view
4. Shere Hite’s research on the basic physiology of female sexual
response (need for both because only 26% achieve orgasm without clitoral
messaging)
C. Male Response
1. ejaculation – release of sperm and seminal fluid by the male at the
time of orgasm
2. refractory period – a short time period after orgasm during which males
are unable to again reach orgasm
VI. Comparing Male and Female Responses – no longer need for simultaneous orgasm;
slower response doesn’t mean less sexual; penis size doesn’t affect response
VII. Atypical Sexual Behavior
A. Paraphilias – compulsive or destructive deviations in sexual preferences or
behavior; p. 462
1. Exhibitionism – 35% of sexual arrests; repeat behaviors
2. Child Molestation – usually male; most are married; 2/3 are fathers;
generally known or relative to victim
VIII. Attitudes and Sexual Behavior
A. Attitudes
B. Behavior
1. sex education delays age of first intercourse
2. double standard – applying different standards for
judging the appropriateness of male/female sexual behaviors
3. acquaintance (date) rape – forced intercourse that occurs
in the context of a date or other voluntary encounter
4. rape myths – false beliefs about rape that tend to blame the
victim and increase he likelihood that some men will think that rape
4
is justified
5. forcible rape – sexual intercourse carried out against the victim’s
will, under the threat of violence or bodily injury
IX. STDs and Safer Sex
A. Terminology
1. std’s – diseases that are typically passed from one person to the next by
intimate physical contact; a venereal disease
2. asymptomatic – refers to having a disease while lacking obvious
symptoms of illness
B. AIDS
1. HIV – human immunodeficiency virus – sexually transmitted virus that
disables the immune system
2. AIDS – acquire immune deficiency syndrome – a frequently fatal
disease cause by HIV infection. In AIDS the immune system is weakened,
allowing other diseases to invade the body
3. Populations at Risk – 1 in 75 males & 1 in 700 woman are infected
C. Behavioral Risk Factors – p. 468
D. Risk and Responsibility
5