Gender Key Terms

Question 1

Sex

Answer 1

The biological difference between males and females including chromosomes, hormones and an anatomy.

Question 2

Gender

Answer 2

The psychological, social, and cultural differences between boys/men and girls/women including attitudes, behaviours and social roles.

Question 3

Sex-role stereotypes

Answer 3

A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for men and women in a given society or social group.

Question 4

Androgyny

Answer 4

Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in ones personality.

Question 5

Bem Sex Role Inventory

Answer 5

The first systematic attempt to measure androgyny using a rating scale of 60 traits to produce scores across two dimensions : masculinity, femininity androgyny and undifferentiated.

Question 6

Chromosomes

Answer 6

Found in the nucleus of living cells and and carrying information in the form of genes. The 23rd pair of chromosomes determine biological sex.

Question 7

Hormone

Answer 7

A biochemical substance that circulates in the blood but only affects target audiences. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. Their effects are very powerful.

Question 8

Testosterone

Answer 8

A hormone from the androgen group that is produced mainly in the male testes. Associated with aggression.

Question 9

Oestrogen

Answer 9

The primary female hormone, playing an important role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive system.

Question 10

Oxytocin

Answer 10

A hormone which causes contraction of the uterus during labour and stimulates lactation.

Question 11

Atypical sex chromosome patterns

Answer 11

Any sex chromosome pattern that deviates from the the usual XX or XY formation which tends to be associated with a distinct pattern of psychological and physical symptoms.

Question 12

Klinefelter’s syndrome

Answer 12

A syndrome affecting males in which an individuals genotype has an extra X chromosome. characterised by tall tis physique, small infertile testes and enlarged breasts.

Question 13

Turner’s syndrome

Answer 13

A chromosomal disorder in which the effected women will only have one X chromosome (denoted XO), causing developmental abnormalities and infertility.

Question 14

Gender identity

Answer 14

A chid recognises that they are a boy or a girl and possesses the ability to label each other as such. In Kohlberg’s theory, gender identity is acquired around age 2.

Question 15

Gender stability

Answer 15

Happens around age 4. A child understands that their own gender is fixed and they will be a man/woman when thy are older.

Question 16

Gender constancy

Answer 16

Usually reached by age 6 or 7. A chid realises their gender will remain the same over time and different situations. They begin to identify with people of their own gender an start to behave in stereotypically gender-appropriate ways.

Question 17

Gender schema

Answer 17

An organised set of beliefs and expectations related to gender that are derived from experience. Such schema guide a person’s understanding of their own gender and stereotypically gender-appropriate behaviour in general.

Question 18

Oedipus complex

Answer 18

Freud’s explanation of how a boy resolves his love for his mother and rivalry with his father by identifying with his father.

Question 19

Electra complex

Answer 19

A term proposed by the Neo-Freudian Carl Jung which refers to a process similar to the Oedipus complex. In girls, attraction to their father and envy of their mother is resolved through identification with the mother.

Question 20

Identification

Answer 20

A desire to be associated with a particular person o group often because the person/group possesses a certain desirable characteristic.

Question 21

Internalisation

Answer 21

An individual adopts the attitudes and/or behaviour of another.

Question 22

Social learning theory

Answer 22

A way to explain behaviour which includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.

Question 23

Culture

Answer 23

The ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society.

Question 24

Media

Answer 24

Communication though channels, such as TV, film and books. Through which news, entertainment education and data are made available.

Question 25

Gender roles

Answer 25

A set of behaviours an attitudes that are considered typical to one gender and atypical of the other.

Question 26

Gender dysphoria

Answer 26

Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress excuse there is a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity. This is also the clinical diagnosis for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with the sex hey were assigned at birth.