Biological Peculiarity between Males and Females - Essay Example

? Gender Identity due: Introduction Sex refers to the biological peculiarity amid males and females. Sexfacets are due to chromosomes, anatomy, hormones, and physical traits. Gender refers to the social and psychological characteristics associated with an individual being male or female. Gender identity is a perception of self as a masculine or feminine. Socially recognized indicators include hairstyle, body shape, and other mannerisms. This paper will aim to discuss the following questions: What are the general gender roles accepted in the society? What does it mean to behave and act like a man? What does it mean to be ladylike? Interaction between hormones and behavior, and how they affect the determination of gender identity Most individuals use social indicators to determine a person’s sex rather than the physical appearance. This is wrong as socially recognized indicators usually, but not always match up to the biological sex of an individual. For instance; if a male put on a dress for amusement, would that make him gay? It is the combination of social indicators rather than a single off indicator that is necessary in determining the gender identity of an individual. The sexual category of an individual is essential and must be identified first before social interaction. Gender identity combines with other identities i.e. race, sexuality, class to produce various femininities or masculinities. This paper will discuss the various theories of gender identity in relation to hormonal and behavioral influences. The first theory is biological determinism. This theory is based on hormonal influences. During the gestation period of all individuals, the levels of androgens determine if a fetus will develop into a male or female. According to the views of some scientists, androgen levels also affect the organization of the brain; resulting to behavioral differences later on in life. The biological determinism view focused on androgen levels was better explained by Ehrhardt, (1985). His experiments revealed that girls who were exposed to high levels of androgens during gestation had a greater interest in physical activity that were male dominated; i.e. climbing trees, football, and biking; and less interest in feminine activities i.e. doll play and infant care. Ehrhardt, (1985) also revealed that boys who were exposed to high levels of female sex hormones were less interested in physical activity and played more with dolls. Therefore, biological determinism by hormonal influences plays a vital role in gender identity. It is significant to note that both males and females have androgens, progestin, and estrogens; but their levels differ. High levels of androgens in girls leads to them having male behaviors. High levels of estrogen in boys lead to feminine behaviors. Therefore, how the hormone levels affect gender behavior leads to gender identity. This is due to the degree of hermaphrodism, making their parents treat them differently; resulting to gender identity of the affected individuals. Hermaphorodism triggered by the abnormal hormone levels causes children to think differently about themselves. According to a study done by Udry, Morris, and Kovenock (1995); higher androgen levels in a mother’s blood during pregnancy leads to masculine behaviors of daughters. Hormonal influences can be triggered by social and cultural factors. The second theory is the biosocial approach. This theory is based on the fact that gender identity stems from both biological predispositions and social experiences. Social influences can counteract biological predispositions. Sorting into same-sex groups creates social distance between girls and boys. The more time boys spend with other boys, the greater the likelihood they learn to be rougher, more aggressive, more competitive, and more active; more time girls spend with other girls, more likely they are to be cooperative, play quiet games, and be less physical in play. Through this interactive process, children establish an expected and rewarded way of behaving. Four factors contribute towards gender identity. They include sex chromosome constitution, hormones, social learning, and brain structure. Brain is the central point of focus as the attitude and behavior expression form the basis of social interactions; resulting to neural processes. The organization and functioning of the brain resulting to gender identity can be influenced by genes, hormones, and learning. Roles of nature and nurture on sexual differentiation and gender identity Nature refers to biological structures and processes while nurture refers to socio-cultural influences individual experiences. The role of nature on gender identity is influenced by the biological composition of the individual. This refers to the chromosome number in the reproductive cells. A general fact is egg and sperm cells contain 22 autosomes plus one sex chromosome (X or Y chromosomes). During the process of fertilization, the egg and sperm cell fuse to produce a cell with 46 chromosomes. The sperm determines the sex of the embryo; XX female and XY male. Genetic signals determine if the gonads will develop into ovaries or testes. After that, the gonads release sex hormones that continue the process of sexual differentiation. This results to a differentiation of external structures between males and females. Gonads produce sex hormones, which are secreted into the blood stream. Sex chromosomes have genes that initiate a sequence of events resulting to the development of male or female gonads. Internal reproductive anatomy of males and females is different, as well. In the male anatomy, testes produce hormones that induce the development of Wolffian ducts and Mullerian inhibiting substance to block Mullerian duct development which is a general gland for the female anatomy. Atypical prenatal differentiation can occur due to sex chromosomes disorders. This is a rare condition, affecting individuals born with one or more extra sex chromosomes or missing one sex chromosome. Examples of these conditions include; Turners’s syndrome (XO) and Klienefelter’s syndrome (XXY). Prenatal hormonal processes can be affected by the following disorders: Androgen Insensitivity syndrome, fetally androgenized female, and DHT- deficient male. Atypical prenatal differentiation leads to intersex individuals, true hermaphrodite, and pseudohermaphrodite. Prenatal hormonal disorders cause fetally androgenized females. These females contain normal chromosomes, but they were exposed to excessive levels of androgens during prenatal sex differentiation. As a result of this, they develop external genitals resembling those of a male. Prenatal hormonal disorders also result to DHT- deficient males. This genetic defect prevents chromosomal male (XY) from converting testosterone to dihydroxy testosterone (DHT). At birth, the genitalia looks more like a clitoris than a penis. This condition reverses at puberty due to the accelerated testosterone production. Nurture refers to social learning influences on gender identity. According to nurture facts, gender identity results from socio-cultural influences during early development. The gender roles expectations strongly influence the environment in which a child is raised. As a child develops, the gender identity also develops. It is the work of the parents to form the environment of their children. They are the ones who have preconceived ideas about how boys and girls should behave; thus they play a big influence on the environment of the growing infant. Parents are shapers of gender roles. This is due to the fact that baby girls receive more attention than baby boys do. Boys receive parental encouragement; they are not treated as fragile. According to nurture, life experiences shape our gender identities. Gender roles are learnt from socialization experiences. In one significant type of nature–nurture interaction, genes function, not as encapsulated units of heredity, but as response systems that are highly contingent on environmental input (Lickliter & Honeycutt, 2003). Thus, genetic differences do not program males and females for different behaviors. According to Fisher (2006), genes do not dictate behaviors or cognitive processes; instead they produce regulatory factors, signaling molecules, receptors, and enzymes. The actions of the genes involve a highly complex network, regulated by environmental factors so as to develop and maintain the brain (p. 270). Debates concerning the nature and nurture on sexual differences and gender identity have been intense with respect to: the developmental research area of socialization as an influence on sex-differentiated behavior, and the social psychological topic of the mate preferences of men and women. Nature has a greater influence on gender identity. This is because biology cannot be changed, but behaviors can be acquired. For example; DHT- deficient males are raised as girls until puberty. These individuals are raised as females as they got used to a shallow vagina that was partially formed. They cannot adjust to male characteristics as they were raised as females. Even though they switch to the male gender at puberty, these individuals will have a hard time adjusting to the gender shifts; most of them end up having gender identity issues. Hormonal imbalances triggered by nature plays a big role in our gender identity. Nurture does not play a big role in gender identity as this is a learned behavior, and it can be changed. Gender identity is primarily a biological process; that is why we have cases of transgenderism and transsexuality; these individuals did not acquire these gender issues, but rather they are inborn; its within their DNA. Based on these facts, nature plays a significant role in gender identity. Current arguments about sexual identity Currently there are various arguments concerning gender identity if it is triggered by nature, nurture, or both. A general argument is that all individuals are either male or female. This argument did take into account of transsexuals or intersexual. According to Rathus (2006) “All fetuses initially begin as female and possess reproductive ducts of both male and female unless the appropriate hormones allow for one reproductive system to develop over the other, it becomes clearer how inefficient hormone production may cause the development of one gender’s reproductive system while allowing a part of the other’s gender’s internal or external reproductive system to develop as well ” (Gender Identity | The Mind's Secret Reality. (N.d.). Retrieved from http://mindofreality.wordpress.com/psychology-corner/gender-role-stereotypes/gen der-identity/). According to the words of Rathus, there are definite biological factors that take place before a person is born that direct the path towards gender identity. Biopsychology provides a way for potential answers based upon scientific observations, evidence, and studies rather than assumptions and personal beliefs. The brain is useful in biophysychology tests. Evidence from biopsychology has been able to confirm that there is a biological basis about how a person’s gender character develops. Cases such as transsexualism have been proven as not a lifestyle choice, but the sexual orientation. Conclusion Sex is inborn while gender is acquired this means that gender is learned. Gender identity not only refers to how we view ourselves as a man or woman, rather what we think of our behaviors and opportunities. Gender changes over time and place; for instance European men used to wear stockings, wigs and powder- what is done currently by women. This means that what is considered as feminine or masculine may vary over time or location. At an early age, children develop stereotypical concepts of both genders, and begin to use these concepts to organize their knowledge and behavior. Hormones condition sex differences in behavior and brain structure. Hormones lead to neuro-anatomical and behavioral changes. Therefore, gender identity is formed from our biology and socialization. Nature–nurture debates continue to be highly controversial in the psychology of gender identity, despite the frequent acknowledgment that both types of causal explanations are important. References Fisher, S. E. (2006). Tangled webs: Tracing the connections between genes and cognition. Cognition, 101, 270–297. Lickliter, R., & Honeycutt, H. (2003). Developmental dynamics: Toward a biologically plausible evolutionary psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 819–835. doi:10.1037/0033 2909.129.6.819 Rathus, S.A., J.S. Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, L. Human sexuality in a world of diversity”. NewsMedical, Sino Biological Inc. 2006. http://mindofreality.wordpress.com/psychology-corner/gender-role-stereotypes/gen der-identity/ http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/nature-nurture.htm http://www.americanscientist.org/science/pub/nature-vs-nurture-outcome-depends-on-where-you-live Read More