Sex & Gender
Revision Sheet
1) Define the term ‘sex’. (1)
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2) Define the term ‘gender’. (1)
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3) Define Masculinity (1)
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4) Define Femininity (1)
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5) Define Androgyny (1)
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6) Describe some traits associated with Masculinity (1)
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7) Describe some traits associated with Femininity (1)
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8) Describe some traits associated with androgyny (1)
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9) Core Theory: Biological Theory – fill in the gaps:
Stages / Male / FemaleWhen a foetus is formed, it has ……….. sex chromosomes. This pair of chromosomes decides whether / …this will be …………………… (XY)… / Or female (………………..)
After 6 weeks of pregnancy, the sex chromosomes have an effect on the development of the ……………………… / The Y chromosome ‘switches on’ a hormone in the male foetus making the gonads into ……………………….… / …or the gonads will turn into ………………………...
The gonads then produce hormones / Testes produce high levels of ………………………… / Ovaries produces high levels of …………………………..
These hormones affect the …………………………… of the child / Males have better brains for certain skills e.g. more ……………………….. and competitive… / Females have better brains for certain skills e.g. more sensitive, ………………………………… and caring.
The hormones also affect the behaviour of the child / Testosterone makes behaviour more masculine e.g. superior mathematical and spatial skills / Oestrogen makes behaviour more feminine e.g. superior verbal and communication skills.
aggressive 2 XX gonads ovaries oestrogen brain compassionate testosterone male testes
10) Biological Theory: Evolution – Highlight the key words:
The biological approach also believes that that human behaviour and gender is instinctive and that instincts have helped us to survive and reproduce. So individuals have physical differences to help them reproduce (penis or vagina) and psychological differences to help them reproduce.
Evolution may explain why females appear more caring and sensitive. Since they have to carry and then raise the young, and breast feed, they need to be better equipped with needy babies. Additionally, they need superior communication skills so they can teach their young or for sharing childcare with other mothers.
Evolution may explain why males appear more aggressive and competitive. This is because they have to fight for the resources to provide for their partner and their children. Additionally, they would have needed superior visual spatial skills to help them hunt (aim a spear) and to find their way back home.
11) Biological Theory Evaluation: AO2 Colour Code the table
Reductionist / Cannot Explain Individual Differences / DeterministicP: One limitation of the biological approach is that it is reductionist. / P: Another issue with the biological approach is that it is deterministic. / P: Furthermore, another issue with the biological approach is that it cannot explain individual differences.
E: This is because all men are biologically similar and all women are biologically similar, yet the two sexes can show a different range of behaviours. / E: This is because it reduces the complexity of gender roles down to the role of chromosomes and hormones. / E: This is because it argues that gender roles are ‘fixed’ and that they are innate and born within us.
E: This is an issue because the approach does not consider the choice that people have in their gender development. / E: This is an issue because if all men have the same chromosome patterns and have the same levels of testosterone, how can the biological approach explain why one male may act masculine and another one act feminine? It must be due to individual differences and the psychological aspect of gender development instead. / E: This is an issue because gender roles maybe learnt. For example, a young boy may be socialised by his parents into a masculine gender by playing with the action figures they have given him. Or a young girl may imitate her mother as she is her role model.
L: As a result, the biological approach is considered an inadequate explanation as a core theory into explaining the development of gender roles. / L: Consequently, the explanatory power of the biological approach is reduced in explaining gender development because it does not consider the idea of ‘free will’. / L: Consequently, the biological approach lacks explanatory power in explaining gender development.
12) Alternative Theory – Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory
a) According the Psychodynamic theory, where do gender roles develop?
b) What are the names of the complexes?
c) At what age do the gender roles develop?
d) Which complex happens to girls?
e) Which complex happens to boys?
f) What is castration anxiety?
g) How is the Oedipus complex resolved?
h) What is penis envy?
i) What is a penis substitute?
j) How is the Electra complex resolved?
13) Core Study: Diamond and Sigmundson (1997) – circle the correct key word (underlined).
Aim: To investigate the role of biology/environment in the development of gender/personality. Procedure: Diamond and Sigmundson produced a case study/lab experiment of a boy who had been raised a girl. Bruce lost his penis/arm in an operation that went wrong. They conducted interviews to help them to describe the life history of this boy. Findings: Bruce & Brenda initially seemed to adopt her feminine gender role. However as she became a teenager/OAP she had a masculine gender identity. She eventually decided to live her life as a boy. Conclusion: Bruce’s biology/environment determined his gender rather than his upbringing.
14) Core Study AO2 – Match up the sentences to create a peel.
Low Population Validity / Researcher Bias / Internal ValidityP: One limitation of Diamond and Sigmundson’s study is that it has low population validity. / P: A further limitation of Diamond and Sigmundson’s research is that it may be subjected to researcher bias (by Dr Money). / P: Another issue with Diamond and Sigmundson’s study is that it has low internal validity.
E: This is because case studies are very thorough investigations, so researchers may become too involved in what they are studying when this happens, researchers may stop being objective. / E: This is because case studies are based on naturally occurring situations (i.e. no one would remove a baby’s penis in order for them to be raised as a girl), so it is not possible to control key variables. / E: This is because they used a case study to investigate the effect of biology on gender, this used a very small sample of one individual.
E: For example, in Bruce’s case he had a twin brother who looked just like him. This gave him a masculine role model that he could easily imitate. / E: For example, Dr Money was accused of interpreting Brenda’s behaviour to provide evidence for his assumptions. He was so keen to show that a boy could be raised as a girl that he failed to report on the fact that Brenda was struggling with her feminine identity. / E: For example, just because Bruce could not adapt to his new gender role, does not mean that other boys would not be able to. Bruce may have been the exception to the rule.
L: Consequently, this casts doubt over the credibility of the research as the results may not be interpreted scientifically and objectively. / L: This overall, casts doubt over the credibility of this study in proving the importance of biology in gender development. / L: As a result, we cannot generalise Diamond and Sigmundson’s findings (that gender is more a product of nature than nurture) to the wider population. Overall, this reduces the wider applicability of the research.
15) Real Life Applications: Education – fill in the gaps
There is some evidence of …………………………. differences between males and females. Some …………………………….. has found that males have better ……………………………skills than females. This would suggest that …………………………. need to spend more time developing these skills in female students to give them the same …………………………………….. as males. For example, females may need more instruction in map reading skills in……………………………….. , more support in doing transformation in Maths or more coaching in ……………………………………… in PE. Meanwhile there is reliable evidence to suggest that ……………………………… are stronger verbally. This means that teachers may need to find other ways of …………………………………. and assessing male students, besides getting them to talk about what they know.
visual-spatial teachers hand-eye coordination testing opportunities Geography Natural females research