Sexual Orientation and Identity

Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation refers to a pattern of romantic attraction to a particular group of people.
• Heterosexual: Attraction to people of a different sex.
• Gay/Lesbian: Attraction to people of the same sex.
• Bisexual: Attraction to people of more than one sex/gender.
• Pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of their sex/gender.
• Sex Fluid: Attraction to different individuals at different points in time.
• Questioning: Exploring one's sexual orientation.
• Asexual: Not sexually attracted to anyone.

Prevalence of Sexual Orientations

• The reported prevalence of sexual orientations varies depending on how the question is asked.
• Studies using labels (lesbian, gay, bisexual) typically show lower rates compared to studies focusing on behaviors (same-sex experiences, attractions).
• Cultural differences also influence responses.

Cisgender and Transgender

• Cisgender: A person whose sense of gender aligns with their assigned sex at birth.
• Transgender: A person whose gender differs from the sex assigned at birth.
• Transitioning: Transgender individuals may take steps to live as the gender they identify with, including changes to identity (pronouns), clothing, and treatments (hormones, surgeries).
• Impact on individuals: The pressure to conform to societal gender norms, discrimination, oppression, and poverty can cause psychological distress for transgender individuals.

Television and Gender Stereotypes

• Studies suggest a correlation between children's television viewing time and their acceptance of gender stereotypes.
• Children watching 3-4 hours of TV per day were more likely to associate "boys" with being better. This likelihood increased over time.

Gender Differences in Speaking and Personality

• Speaking Behaviors:
  • Men: More likely to interrupt, speak loudly, hold the floor for longer, and use compliments ("mm hm", "right", etc.) to emphasize their views.
  • Women: More likely to apologize, offer compliments, use verbal reinforcers ("mmhm", "right"), soften language ("kinda", "y'know"), and use nonverbal cues like smiling, nodding, and leaning forward.
• Personality:
  • Conscientiousness: No significant gender difference.
  • Agreeableness: Women tend to score higher than men.
  • Neuroticism: Women tend to score higher than men.
  • Openness to Experience: Men and women have similar levels, but with subtle differences: women are more open to new emotions, while men are more open to new ideas.

Gender in Education (STEM)

• Girls are underrepresented in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
• This underrepresentation is attributed to societal factors that discourage girls from pursuing STEM careers, not inherent differences in ability.
• Fear of confirming stereotypes about their gender if they struggle in STEM fields can discourage girls from pursuing these careers.

Differences in Communication and Expression of Emotions

• Communication:
  • Women: Use language to maintain connections, emphasizing listening and compassion.
  • Men: Use language to assert dominance or hold attention, often interrupting, speaking louder, and holding the floor for longer periods.
• Emotion Expression:
  • Women: Tend to express sadness and happiness more openly, smile more, nod, and lean forward during communication.
  • Men: May express emotions less overtly and exhibit discrepancies in nonverbal communication.

Differences in Navigating, Digital Communication, and Sex Life

• Navigating:
  • Men: Rely more on compass directions and distances.
  • Women: Use a more time-dependent perspective, focusing on landmarks and relative directions.
• Digital Communication:
  • Women: More likely to take selfies when with others, use more emojis, and perceive negative emojis as more negative.
  • Men: More likely to take selfies when with others.
• Sex Life:
  • Men: Tend to report higher interest in sex, more partners, higher rates of masturbation and pornography, and experience orgasm more frequently.
  • Women: Prioritize emotional/interpersonal connection in sex and may be less comfortable with hookups compared to men.