Unit 3.3: Gender and Sexual Orientation

Key Terms:

• Cisgender: Gender identity matches sex assigned at birth (e.g., assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman)
• Transgender: Gender identity differs from sex assigned at birth (e.g., assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman)
• Nonbinary: Gender identity that is not exclusively male or female; may be a blend, fluid, or outside the binary
• Gender dysphoria: Clinically significant distress resulting from incongruence between gender identity and sex assigned at birth

Characteristics of Gender Roles:

• Culturally and historically variable (differ across time and place)
• Learned through socialization processes
• Reinforced through rewards and punishments
• Can be limiting or harmful when too rigid
• Influence career choices, emotional expression, relationships, and behavior

Examples of Traditional Gender Roles:

• Masculine roles: Provider, protector, strong, unemotional, competitive, mechanical
• Feminine roles: Caregiver, nurturing, emotional, cooperative, domestic
• Note: These are stereotypes that don't reflect individual variation and can be restrictive

Effects of Stereotypes:

• Limit career aspirations (STEM for boys, nursing/teaching for girls)
• Influence academic performance through stereotype threat
• Affect emotional expression and mental health help-seeking
• Shape relationship dynamics and communication styles
• Can become self-fulfilling prophecies when internalized

Types of Sexual Orientation:

• Heterosexual: Attraction to people of a different gender
• Homosexual (Gay/Lesbian): Attraction to people of the same gender
• Bisexual: Attraction to people of more than one gender
• Asexual: Little to no sexual attraction to others
• Pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of gender

Key Points About Sexual Orientation:

• Not a choice — emerges from complex biological and environmental factors
• Typically becomes clearer during adolescence
• Can be fluid for some people; stable for others
• Independent of gender identity (can be any combination)
• Natural variation across human populations and other species

Key Mechanisms:

• Observation: Children watch same-sex models (parents, peers, media figures)
• Imitation: Children copy behaviors they observe in their gender models
• Direct reinforcement: Rewards (praise, encouragement) for gender-appropriate behavior
• Punishment: Criticism or discouragement for gender-inappropriate behavior
• Vicarious reinforcement: Learning by watching others get rewarded or punished

Example:

A young girl watches her mother cook dinner and receives praise when she helps in the kitchen ("What a good helper!"). She observes her brother getting scolded for playing with dolls. Through these experiences, she learns which behaviors are rewarded for her gender and imitates accordingly.

How Gender Schemas Work:

• Schema formation: Children create mental categories for "masculine" and "feminine"
• Self-identification: Once children identify as boy/girl (around age 2-3), they actively seek gender-relevant information
• Information filtering: Children pay more attention to same-gender models and activities
• Self-regulation: Children use schemas to guide their own behavior ("I'm a boy, so I should like trucks")
• Schema reinforcement: Children ignore or distort information that doesn't fit their gender schemas

Example:

A 4-year-old boy develops a schema that "boys play with action figures and girls play with dolls." When he sees a female superhero, he might initially reject it as "for girls" until his schema is challenged and updated. He actively seeks out "boy toys" and avoids "girl toys" based on his internal schema.

Biological Factors:

• Chromosomes: XX and XY chromosomes typically associated with female and male development
• Prenatal hormones: Testosterone and estrogen influence brain development and body differentiation
• Brain structure: Small average differences exist, but overlap is substantial and plasticity is significant
• Evolutionary factors: Some theorize certain behaviors have evolutionary origins
• Key Point: Biology provides predispositions, but environment and experience heavily shape expression

How Parents Influence Gender Development:

• Differential treatment begins at birth (pink vs. blue, toys, clothing)
• Parental modeling of gender roles in daily activities and division of labor
• Direct reinforcement of gender-appropriate behaviors
• Different communication styles (rougher play with boys, more verbal interaction with girls)
• Different expectations for emotions (encouraging girls to express feelings, boys to be tough)
• Toy selection and activity encouragement based on gender

Peer Socialization Mechanisms:

• Gender segregation: Children naturally form same-gender playgroups (peak around ages 6-11)
• Peer pressure: Enforcement of gender norms through teasing, exclusion, or acceptance
• Modeling: Observing and imitating same-gender peers
• Social comparison: Evaluating one's own gender conformity against peers
• Reinforcement: Peers reward gender-typical behavior and punish violations

Media Influences:

• Television, movies, and video games often portray stereotypical gender roles
• Underrepresentation or stereotypical representation of certain groups
• Social media reinforces appearance standards and gender norms
• Advertising targets products by gender and reinforces stereotypes
• Counter-stereotypical media can challenge and expand gender schemas
• Representation matters for identity development and possibilities

Why Intersectionality Matters:

• Gender roles and expectations vary by culture, race, and class
• Multiple marginalized identities can compound discrimination and stress
• Experience of being a woman differs based on race, class, sexual orientation, etc.
• LGBTQ+ individuals face unique challenges based on other intersecting identities
• Understanding requires examining how multiple identities interact, not just adding them together

Example:

A Black transgender woman faces unique challenges that are different from those faced by Black cisgender women, white transgender women, or Black cisgender men. Her experiences reflect the intersection of race, gender identity, and potentially other factors like socioeconomic status.

Stages Often Involved:

• Identity awareness: Recognizing same-sex attractions or gender incongruence
• Identity exploration: Questioning and exploring feelings and identity
• Self-acceptance: Coming to terms with and accepting one's identity
• Disclosure: Revealing identity to trusted others (family, friends)
• Integration: Incorporating identity into overall sense of self

Important Considerations:

• Coming out is a lifelong process (not a single event)
• Timing and extent of disclosure vary widely based on safety and support
• Supportive responses predict better mental health outcomes
• Rejection or negative responses can lead to minority stress
• Cultural and religious contexts significantly influence the experience
• Not everyone chooses to come out, and that's valid