Sexuality and Gender PDF

Sexuality and Gender Chapter 10 Male and Female Physical Differences Primary sex characteristics - structures that are present at birth Female primary sex characteristics Vagina - the tube that leads from the outside of a female’s body to the opening of the womb Uterus - the wom...

Sexuality and Gender Chapter 10 Male and Female Physical Differences Primary sex characteristics - structures that are present at birth Female primary sex characteristics Vagina - the tube that leads from the outside of a female’s body to the opening of the womb Uterus - the womb in which the baby grows during pregnancy Ovaries - the female sexual glands Male and Female Physical Differences Male primary sex characteristics Penis - male sex organ Testes (testicles) - the male sex glands Scrotum - external sack that holds the testes Prostate gland - gland that secretes most of the fluid holding the male sex cells or sperm Male and Female Physical Differences Secondary sex characteristics— sexual organs and traits that develop at puberty and are indirectly involved in human reproduction Male and Female Physical Differences Female secondary sex characteristics Growth spurt Onset of the menarche cycle – monthly shedding of the blood and tissue that line the uterus in preparation for pregnancy when conception does not occur Breast development Mammary glands - glands within the breast tissue that produce milk when a woman gives birth to an infant Male and Female Physical Differences Female secondary sex characteristics Widening hips Pubic hair Fat deposits on buttocks and thighs Further growth and development of the uterus, vagina, and ovaries Male and Female Physical Differences Male secondary sex characteristics Enlarged larynx (Adam’s apple) Deepening voice Facial and chest hair Pubic hair Coarser skin texture Large increase in height  Development of Sex Characteristics Primary sex characteristics develop as the embryo grows Gonads develop at 5 weeks, but embryo could potentially become either male or female Chromosomes determine the release of male or female hormones Estrogens - female sex hormones Androgens - male sex hormones Intersex - modern term for a hermaphrodite, a person who possesses ambiguous sexual organs, making it difficult to determine actual sex from a visual inspection at birth.  Gender Gender The psychological aspects of being male or female Gender roles - the culture’s expectations for masculine or feminine behavior, including Attitudes Actions Personality traits  Gender Gender typing - the process of acquiring gender role characteristics Gender identity - the individual's sense of being male or female Transgendered - the sense of gender identity does not match their external experience or chromosomes  Biology and Environmental Influences on Gender Biological influences - hormones, chromosomes, and evolutionary selection Environmental influences Parenting Culture - individualistic societies with high standards of living are more accepting of nontraditional gender roles, especially for women  Gender Role Development Social learning theory Gender identity is formed through reinforcement of appropriate gender behavior as well as imitation of gender models Gender schema theory A child develops amental pattern, or schema, for being male or female and then organizes observed and learned behavior around that schema  Gender Stereotyping Stereotype A concept held about a person or group of people that is based on superficial, irrelevant characteristics Gender stereotype A concept held about a person or group of people that is based on being male or female  Gender Stereotyping Sexism Prejudice against males and/or females leading to unequal treatment Benevolent sexism Acceptance of positive stereotypes of males and females that leads to unequal treatment  Androgyny Androgyny characteristic of possessing the most positive personality characteristics of males and females regardless of actual sex research shows less depression among androgynous people than among traditional men and traditional women  Male and Female Gender Differences Cognitive differences Male advantage in mathematical and spatial skills Female superiority in verbal skills Decreasing differences Emotional expression Males tend to talk with each other in a “report” style Females tend to talk to each other in a “relate” style  Stages of Human Sexual Response 1. Excitement - beginning of sexual arousal 2. Plateau - physical changes beginning in first stage continue 3. Orgasm - a series of rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the vaginal walls or the penis; also, the third and shortest phase of sexual response 4. Resolution - the final phase of the sexual response, in which the body is returned to a normal state  Stages of Human Sexual Response 1. Excitement - beginning of sexual arousal 2. Plateau - physical changes beginning in first stage continue 3. Orgasm - a series of rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the vaginal walls or the penis; also, the third and shortest phase of sexual response 4. Resolution - the final phase of the sexual response, in which the body is returned to a normal state  Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation - a person’s sexual attraction preference for members of a particular sex Heterosexual - attracted to the opposite sex Homosexual - attracted to the same sex Bisexual - attracted to both men and women  Sexual Orientation Development of sexual orientation Coming to terms with identities Upbringing and environmental experiences, can be assumed to be a behavior that can be changed Biological differences in the brains of heterosexual and homosexual males Birth order  Sexual Orientation Development of sexual orientation Neuroimaging studies Heterosexual men and homosexual women seemed neurologically similar Homosexual men and heterosexual women were neurologically similar Genetic influences on sexual orientation Homosexuals are consistently “feminine” as children Kin selection hypothesis  Sexual Dysfunction Sexual Dysfunction Problem with sexual functioning, or with physical workings of the sex act in one of three areas Sexual interest Arousal Response Organic Or Stress-induced Dysfunction Sexual problem caused by physical disorder or psychological stress  Sexual Dysfunction Causes And Influences Organic Factors Sociocultural Factors Psychological Factors  Sexual Dysfunction Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5 Sexual desire or arousal disorders Disorders related to the physical act of intercourse Disorders related to the timing or inability to reach orgasm  Sexual Dysfunction Prevalence Worldwide about 40 to 45 percent of women and 20 to 30 percent of men have at least one sexual dysfunction, and the rate increases as we age For all of the sexual dysfunctions, treatment can include medication, psychotherapy, hormone therapy, stress reduction, sex therapy, and behavioral training  Sexually Transmitted Infections Sexually transmitted infections (STI) can affect the sexual organs and the ability to reproduce May result in pain, disfigurement, and even death Common bacterial STIs are chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea Treatable with antibiotics  Sexually Transmitted Infections Viral STIs include genital herpes (caused by the herpes simplex virus that also causes cold sores) and genital warts(caused by the human papillomavirus) Cannot be cured Can lead to complications, such as increased risk of cancer  Sexually Transmitted Infections AIDS, (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) sexually transmitted viral disorder that causes deterioration of the immune system and eventually results in death due to complicating infections that the body can no longer fight caused by human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) drug treatments are available, but there is no cure  How to Stop the Spread of STIs 1. Using condoms 2. Having only one partner 3. Avoiding IV drug use 4. Knowing the symptoms of the diseases 5. Getting regular physicals