Gender and Sex

Question 1

sex

Answer 1

a bodily classification configuration of internal and external reproductive anatomy

Question 2

biological sex, what are the traits? what is it referred as?

Answer 2

Refers to the physical presentation of primary
and secondary traits
primary: reproductive tract
secondary: physical differences not directly related to the production (body hair, body size and composition etc.)
-referred as morphological sex

Question 3

Is Sex a “Natural” Binary? OR Is that a Culturally

informed Idea?

Answer 3

• Sex is biocultural
  
  • biology determines: chromosomes, hormones, anatomy, morphology, reproductive capability
  • Culture determines: how many “types” to recognize and how to understand them

Question 4

Anne Fausto-Sterling

Answer 4

“the Five Sexes”

• observes: western culture has a two-sex system
• argues: sex is an infinitely variable continuum
• clinicians should recognize at least 5 sexes (male, merm, herm, ferm, female)
• argues that medicalization and surgical interventions reinforces social stigma

Question 5

Michel Foucault

Answer 5

Biopower: having power over bodies to make them conform using different, even “unruly” techniques

Question 6

acts of biopower

Answer 6

• HRT in menopause
• Weight management
• Medication to correct psychological/ emotional difference

Question 7

How do we get sex?

Answer 7

• Primary and secondary sex traits differentiate through a developmental pathway that (normally) begins in utero and ends after puberty
• Male-type and female-type reproductive tracts develop from the same embryological tissues

Question 8

sexual differentiation involves:

Answer 8

• Chromosomes (X, Y)
  
  • Regulatory genes (on X, Y, and autosomes)
  • Hormones (espandrogens and estrogens)
  • Enzymes
  • Timing!

Question 9

attributes associated with sex

Answer 9

• Sexual dimorphism
○ Difference in height, bone density and structure
• Secondary sex characteristics
○ Things that are not related to reproduction, and this can be hair or voice
• Morphology related to childbearing
○ Male and female body parts

Question 10

Turners Syndrome

Answer 10

• Affects 1-2500
	• Females lack an X chromosomes
	• Prevents ovaries from developing properly
	• Heart problems
	• Shorter stature
	• Moles on body
More facial hair growth

Question 11

Klinefelter’s Syndrome

Answer 11

• Affects 1-500
  
  • Males that contain an extra X chromosome in their genome
  • XXY instead of XY
  • Reduction of testosterone and produce breasts and little to no sperm
  • Can’t reproduce
  • Less facial hair growth

Question 12

intersex/ hermaphroditism

Answer 12

the presence of both male and female body parts because they have both male and female reproductive organs.
• 46, XX intersex
• 46, XY intersex

Question 13

congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Answer 13

• XX, 46, with variously ambiguous genitals (ex. Large clitoris, vaginal opening small or absent)
  
  • Adrenal glands produce androgens (male sex hormones)
  • CAH body does not produce an enzyme that converts androgens into other forms-leading to altered reproductive tract development

Question 14

androgen insensitivity syndrome

Answer 14

• XY, 46, sometimes with male and female structures
• Body doesn’t respond to androgens, or doesn’t produce enough
• Variable manifestations (may be partial or complete)
Complete form results in female anatomy indistinguishable from XX female

Question 15

gender

Answer 15

folk taxonomy defined by interrelated social role(s) and performed behaviours, customarily associated with bodies based on their primary and secondary sex traits (breasts, body hair, etc.)

Question 16

Is a culturally constructed forms of identity that consists of the roles people are expected to play because of their sex.

Answer 16

gender

Question 17

Judith Butler

Answer 17

argues that gender can be conscious and unconscious, we make gender through actions/gender markers

Question 18

gender markers

Answer 18

Makeup, hair etc
“Wedding”- conscious performance of gender
“Boy babies and girl babies

Question 19

Intersexions Documentary

Answer 19

Explores experiences of intersex people (with DSD affecting genital structure)
Notice: development plays a role; diversity….sexual identities; gender identities, sexual orientations

Question 20

3 main points concerning gender

Answer 20

1. Most human societies recognize gender
2. Most gender systems relate to sex
3. Gender roles and relations vary widely and are known to evolve over time

Question 21

folk taxonomy vs scientific taxonomy

Answer 21

folk: a classification system of objects and phenomena, based on cultural criteria that reflect social meaning and use
scientific: classification on systematic patterns of empirical and intrinsic characteristics
- morphological traits, tooth shape, diet

Question 22

gender is______

Answer 22

culturally situated

Question 23

Margaret Mead

Answer 23

studied sexual differences in culture in Papua New Guinea

• was the first to show that gender is culturally constructed
• sex differences are learned not inherited

Question 24

Franz Boas

Answer 24

fought against racial stereotyping

Question 25

Margaret Mead findings among tribes in Papua New Guinea

Answer 25

Arapesh: no division in labour, men and women alike Mundugumor: men and women alike (both aggressive) -strong division in labour/constant arguing Tchambuli: very strong division in labour, men and women different (women did most of the work) -polygyny: men have multiple wives

Question 26

sexuality

Answer 26

cultural rules and expectations for sexual activity | -different cultures have different sexual practices

Question 27

third gender

Answer 27

an anthropological catch-all term for distinct non-cisgender roles

Question 28

sworn virgins/burneshat

Answer 28

in Albania, females chose to live as men to work and support themselves - requires an oath of celibacy - wealth=land

Question 29

hijras

Answer 29

- india, pakistan, bangledash etc. - biologically male/intersex but dress as females - classify as third gender - casted and looked down upon - marginalized

Question 30

gender equality

Answer 30

behaviours, attitudes, and rights that support the autonomy of both male and female

Question 31

primatological perspectives

Answer 31

social hierarchies: chimps accepted male dominance, females may be politically powerful -bonobos, females form strong bonds, open female leadership hunting: chimps; males hunt and share meat to reinforce coalition and position, females hunt and teach offspring - bonobos; also hunt and share meat

Question 32

biological determinism

Answer 32

the attribution of a phenomenon to a biological cause - belief that behaviour is controlled by genes or some component of their psychology example: women are better listeners because they are evolved in the nurture - burnouts of bows; implies binary conditions

Question 33

essentialism

Answer 33

the attitude that a given phenomenon is intrinsic, natural, and unchangeable independent of contextual factors -men cant give birth, women cant fish

Question 34

cultural determinism

Answer 34

the belief that our emotional and cultural behaviours are shaped by our history, culture and environment

Question 35

nature vs nurture

Answer 35

culture is important, varibale, unfixed biology is important, variable and unfixed -both influence one another -people are biocultural

Question 36

Johann Blumenbach

Answer 36

father of physical anthropology | -identified 5 different races