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Chapter 13
Gender and Sexuality
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Defining Some Terms
Sex: Whether you are biologically male or female
Gender: All the psychological and social characteristics
associated with being male or female; defined by one’s
gender identity and learned gender roles
Primary Sexual Characteristics: Sexual and internal
reproductive organs
Secondary Sexual Characteristics: Features other than
genitals and reproductive organs (breasts, facial hair,
etc.) that appear at puberty
Menarche: Onset of menstruation; a woman’s first
menstrual period
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Some More Terms to Know
Ovulation: Release of ova (eggs) from the
ovaries
Menopause: End of monthly menstrual cycles;
usually occurs in the late 40’s or early 50’s
Gonads: Sex glands; testes in males and
ovaries in females
Estrogens: Female Hormones
Androgens: Male hormones
Testosterone: Male sex hormone (androgen)
secreted mainly by the testes
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Dimensions of Sex
Genetic Sex: XX or XY chromosomes
Gonadal Sex: Ovaries or testes
Hormonal Sex: Predominance of
androgens or estrogens
Genital Sex: Clitoris and vagina in
females; penis and scrotum in males
Gender Identity: One’s subjective sense
of being male or female
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Fig. 13.1 Cutaway view of internal and external male reproductive structures.
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Fig. 13.2 Cutaway view of internal and external female reproductive structures
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Prenatal Sexual Development
Androgen Insensitivity: Inherited disorder; male
embryos fail to develop male genitals because of an
unresponsiveness to testosterone
Intersexual Person: Ambiguous genital sexuality;
having genitals that suggest both sexes
Androgenital Syndrome: Genetic abnormality;
adrenals produce excess androgen, sometimes
creating a female child with male genitals before birth
Biological Biasing Effect: Exposure to prenatal
androgens and estrogens may influence the body,
nervous system, and later behavior patterns
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Fig. 13.3 Prenatal development of the reproductive
organs. Early development of ovaries or testes
affects hormonal balance and alters sexual anatomy.
(a) At first the sex organs are the same in the human
female and male. (b) When androgens are absent,
female structures begin to develop. (c) Male sex
organs are produced when androgens are present.
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Gender Roles
Sometimes known as sex roles; favored
pattern of behavior for males and females

E.g. girls are expected to be sensitive, and boys
dominant
Gender Role Stereotypes: Oversimplified
beliefs (stereotypes) about what men and
women are really like

Gender roles appear to be learned
Instrumental Behaviors: Goal-directed
behaviors
Expressive Behaviors: Expresses or
communicates emotion or personal feelings
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Fig. 13.4 Recorded differences in various abilities that exist between women and men are based on
averages. For example, if we were to record the number of men and women who have low, medium, or
high scores on tests of language ability, we might obtain graphs like those shown. For other abilities men
would have a higher average. However, such average differences are typically small. As a result, the
overlap in female abilities and male abilities is very large (Breedlove, 1994).
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CNN – Warrior Mentality
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Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)
and Androgyny
BSRI: Created by Sandra Bem

Consists of 60 personal traits, 20 each for
“masculine,” “feminine,” and “neutral”
Androgyny: Having both masculine and
feminine traits in a single person

Androgynous individuals are more adaptable in
our society
Rigid gender stereotypes can restrict
behavior, especially males’
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Fig. 13.5 One study found that even the parents of 2-year-olds strongly encourage their toddlers to play
with “sex-appropriate” toys. Parents’ nonverbal responses to toys were consistently more positive when a
toy matched stereotypes for the child’s gender (Calder, Huston & O’Brien, 1989).
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Fig. 13.6 Another indication of the possible benefits of androgyny is found in a study of reactions to stress.
When confronted with an onslaught of negative events, strongly masculine or feminine persons become
more depressed than androgynous individuals do. (Adapted from Roos & Cohen, 1987.)
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Sexual Behavior and Arousal
Erogenous Zones: Areas of the body
that produce pleasure and/or provoke
erotic desires (genitals, breasts, etc.)
Sexual Scripts: Unspoken mental plans
that guide our sexual behavior
Sex Drive: Strength of one’s motivation
to engage in sexual behavior
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Sexual Behavior (cont.)
Castration: Surgical removal of the
testes or ovaries
Sterilization: Surgery (vasectomy or
tubal ligation) to make a man or woman
infertile
Masturbation: Self-stimulation of the
genitals that causes sexual pleasure or
orgasm
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Fig. 13.7 These graphs show the frequency of sexual intercourse for American adults. To generalize,
about one third of the people surveyed have sex twice a week or more, one third a few times a month, and
one third a few times a year or not at all. The overall average is about once a week (Laumann et al.,
1994).
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Fig. 13.8 Average frequency of sexual intercourse per week for adults in the United States. Average
intervals for intercourse decline from once every 4 to 5 days in young adulthood, to once every 16 days in
the sixties. Remember that averages such as these are lowered by the inclusion of people ho are
abstinent or who do not have sexual partners (such as many widowed persons). However, the age
declines noted here also show up for people who are married, ranging from an average rate of intercourse
of twice a week for couples younger than 30 to once every 3 weeks for those older than 70. This
suggests that the average frequency of intercourse does decline with advancing age (Smith, 1990).
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Fig. 13.9 Percentage of women and men who masturbate. (data from James & Janus, 1993).
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Sexual Orientation
Definition: Degree of emotional and erotic
attraction to members of the same sex,
opposite sex, or both sexes
Heterosexual: Romantically and erotically
attracted to the opposite sex
Bisexual: Romantically and erotically attracted
to both sexes
Homosexual: Romantically and erotically
attracted to the same sex
Homophobia: Fear of homosexuality
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CNN - Gay by Nature
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CNN – Harassment of Gay teens
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Human Sexual Response: Masters and
Johnson’s Discoveries
Sexual response can be divided into
four phases that occur in the following
order:
Excitement: Initial signs of sexual arousal
 Plateau: Physical arousal intensifies
 Orgasm: Climax and release of sexual
excitement
 Resolution: Return to lower levels of sexual
tension and arousal

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Human Sexual Response: Masters
and Johnson’s Discoveries (cont.)
Ejaculation: Release of sperm and
seminal fluid (semen) by the male at
orgasm
Refractory Period: Short time period
after orgasm when males are unable to
orgasm again
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Atypical Sexual Behaviors
Paraphilias: Sexual deviations; tend to
be compulsive or destructive
preferences or behaviors
Pedophilia: Sex with children; child
molesting
 Exhibitionism: “Flashing” genitals to
unwilling viewers

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More Atypical Sexual Behaviors
Sexual Sadism: Deriving sexual
pleasure from inflicting pain
Sexual Masochism: Deriving sexual
pleasure from receiving pain
Frotteurism: Sexually touching or
rubbing against a nonconsenting
person, usually in a public place like an
elevator or subway
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Child Molestation
Most are males and married
Two-thirds are fathers
Most molestations rarely exceed
fondling
Impact of molestation depends on how
long the abuse lasts and whether
genital sexual acts are involved
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Signs of Child Molestation
Child fears being seen nude (e.g.,
bathing), when these fears were
previously absent
Child develops physical complaints like
headaches, stomachaches, and other
stress-related symptoms
Child becomes markedly emotional and
irritable
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More Signs of Child Molestation
Child engages in hazardous risk taking,
such as jumping from high places or
riding a bicycle dangerously in traffic
Child reveals self-destructive or suicidal
thoughts
Child shows a loss of self-esteem or
self-worth
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Tactics of Child Molesters
Most act alone
Most assaults take place in abuser’s home
Many abusers gain access to the child through
caretaking
Children are targeted first through bribes, gifts, and
games
Abuser tries to lull child into participation through
touch, talking about sex, and persuasion (May occur
through email or chat rooms)
Abuser then uses force, anger, threats, and bribes to
gain continued compliance
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Attitudes and the Crime of Rape
Double Standard: Applying different rules for judging
the appropriateness of male and female sexual
behaviors
Acquaintance (Date) Rape: Forced intercourse that
occurs in the context of a date or other voluntary
encounter
Forcible Rape: Sexual intercourse that is carried out
against the victim’s will, usually under the threat of
bodily violence
 Rape is a crime of violence, brutality, and
aggression
 Men can also be subjected to rape
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STD’s)
A disease that is passed from one person to another
by intimate physical contact; a venereal disease
Asymptomatic: Having a disease while lacking obvious
symptoms of illness
 Makes the disease harder to detect
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Sexually
transmitted virus that disables the immune system
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS):
Caused by HIV and frequently fatal. The immune
system is weakened, allowing other diseases and
infections to invade the body

White Blood Cell count is often lowered dangerously
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STD: Risky Behaviors
Sharing drug needles and syringes
Anal sex, with or without a condom
Unprotected sex (without a condom) with an
infected partner
Sex with someone you know, or do not know,
who has several partners
Vaginal or oral sex with an intravenous drug
user
Having many sex partners
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Fig. 13.12 Popular professional basketball start Earvin “Magic” Johnson stunned fans when he announced
that he had tested positive for HIV. Johnson, who is heterosexual, emphasized that his infection is a
warning that anyone who is sexually active can contact HIV if they don’t follow safe sex practices. Johnson
further stressed that abstinence is the surest way to prevent AIDS. Johnson’s infection increased public
awareness about AIDS. Unfortunately, though, it has resulted in little real change in risky behavior (Brown,
et al., 1996).
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Safer Sex Practices
Not having sex
Not injecting drugs
Using a condom
Sex with one mutually faithful,
uninfected partner
Not engaging in sex while intoxicated
Reducing the number of sex partners
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Sexual Desire and Arousal Disorders
Hypoactive Sexual Desire: Persistent, upsetting loss of
sexual desire
 Both aspects must be present
Sexual Aversion: Feelings of fear, anxiety or disgust
about engaging in sex
Erectile Disorder: Inability to maintain an erection for
lovemaking and intercourse; once known as impotence.
Also known as erectile dysfunction
Psychogenic: Having psychological and not physical
causes
Sensate Focus: Type of therapy that directs attention to
natural sensations of pleasure and also builds
communication skills
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Orgasmic and Sexual Pain Disorders
Female Orgasmic Disorder: Persistent inability to reach
orgasm during lovemaking

The woman may reach orgasm during masturbation, however
Premature Ejaculation: Ejaculation that persistently
occurs before the male and his partner want it to occur

Squeeze Technique: Method for inhibiting ejaculation by
compressing the tip of the penis
Dyspareunia: Genital pain before, during, and after
intercourse

Rare in males
Vaginismus: Condition where muscle spasms of the
vagina making penetration by the penis difficult, painful,
or impossible
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Sexual Satisfaction (McCarthy, 1995)
Elements necessary for a continuing
healthy sexual relationship
Sexual anticipation
 Valuing one’s sexuality
 Feeling that you deserve sexual pleasure
 Valuing intimacy

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Ways to Avoid Intimacy (Strong &
DeVault, 1994)
Don’t talk about anything meaningful
Never show your feelings
Pretend everything is okay, even if you
are upset or dissatisfied
Always win, never compromise
Always keep busy
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Ways to Avoid Intimacy (cont.)
Always be right
Never argue
Make your partner guess what you want
Always take care of your own needs
first
Keep the television set on
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