BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF GENDER DEVELOPMENT WITH
EVIDENCE #4
Theory (paragraph 1) - correct answer Chromosomes
- Everyone has 23 pairs and the 23rd pair determines biological sex
- this pair can be XY (male with testes) or XX (female with ovaries)
- atypical sex chromosomes =
XO (Turner's Syndrome) are biologically female with masculine characteristics
XXY (Klinefelter's Syndrome) are biologically male with lesser masculine characteristics
Theory part 2 (paragraph 1) - correct answer Hormones
- released prenatally to influence brain/sex organ development
- exposes to hormone surge in puberty triggering development of secondary sexual
characteristics
Examples
- androgens - male sex hormones that cause embryo to develop as a male (otherwise
would develop as female) + are crucial for male sexual reproductive function
(testosterone first produced at 8 weeks foetal development)
- oestrogen - determines female sexual characteristics and directs the menstrual cycle +
promotes secondary sexual characteristics in puberty
- oxytocin - women produce more than men especially in childbirth to stimulate lactation
and reduce stress hormones making bonding easier ("love hormone")
Research - David Reimer Case (paragraph 2) - correct answer - started life as Bruce
and had an identical twin Brian
- both circumcised at 6 months (urination problems)
- Bruce's operation was botched and majority of his penis was burnt off
- Dr Money advised parents have the rest of penis and testes removed and raise as a
girl (Brenda)
- case provided unique natural experiment - normal XY male raises as female and
identical twin as the control
- Brenda not happy and changed back to male when told as a teen
- changed name to David
- committed suicide in 2004
Research part 2 - Link back to Bio theory (paragraph 2) - correct answer - supports role
of chromosomes and hormones as it shows influence of nature overriding nurture
- shows biological gender can't be changed by social intervention
- even though D was brought up female, he displayed masculine characteristics and
changed back to male eventually
- raises parallel with transgender people who feel they are born as the wrong sex -
powerful + undeniable feelings that start before puberty, as shown by D
- no matter what bio processes underlie sex differentiation, some parts of gender
identity are hard-wired into our bodies
EVIDENCE #4
Theory (paragraph 1) - correct answer Chromosomes
- Everyone has 23 pairs and the 23rd pair determines biological sex
- this pair can be XY (male with testes) or XX (female with ovaries)
- atypical sex chromosomes =
XO (Turner's Syndrome) are biologically female with masculine characteristics
XXY (Klinefelter's Syndrome) are biologically male with lesser masculine characteristics
Theory part 2 (paragraph 1) - correct answer Hormones
- released prenatally to influence brain/sex organ development
- exposes to hormone surge in puberty triggering development of secondary sexual
characteristics
Examples
- androgens - male sex hormones that cause embryo to develop as a male (otherwise
would develop as female) + are crucial for male sexual reproductive function
(testosterone first produced at 8 weeks foetal development)
- oestrogen - determines female sexual characteristics and directs the menstrual cycle +
promotes secondary sexual characteristics in puberty
- oxytocin - women produce more than men especially in childbirth to stimulate lactation
and reduce stress hormones making bonding easier ("love hormone")
Research - David Reimer Case (paragraph 2) - correct answer - started life as Bruce
and had an identical twin Brian
- both circumcised at 6 months (urination problems)
- Bruce's operation was botched and majority of his penis was burnt off
- Dr Money advised parents have the rest of penis and testes removed and raise as a
girl (Brenda)
- case provided unique natural experiment - normal XY male raises as female and
identical twin as the control
- Brenda not happy and changed back to male when told as a teen
- changed name to David
- committed suicide in 2004
Research part 2 - Link back to Bio theory (paragraph 2) - correct answer - supports role
of chromosomes and hormones as it shows influence of nature overriding nurture
- shows biological gender can't be changed by social intervention
- even though D was brought up female, he displayed masculine characteristics and
changed back to male eventually
- raises parallel with transgender people who feel they are born as the wrong sex -
powerful + undeniable feelings that start before puberty, as shown by D
- no matter what bio processes underlie sex differentiation, some parts of gender
identity are hard-wired into our bodies
