Chapter 5

Lecture Notes

There are several key terms for this chapter. Sex is whether one is biologically female, male, or intersex. Genetic sex is the chromosomal and hormonal sex characteristics. For example, whether one's chromosomes are XY or XX or something else and whether estrogen or testosterone dominates the hormonal system. Anatomical sex is the physical sex including gonads, uterus, vulva, vagina, or penis.   Although "sex" and "gender" are often used interchangeably, gender is not the same as biological sex. Whereas sex is rooted in biology or anatomy, gender is rooted in culture. Gender, or femininity or masculinity, relates to the social and cultural characteristics associated with being male or female. Sub terms of gender include assigned gender, gender identity, and gender role. Assigned gender is given by looking at your genetalia and is based on whether you have a penis or vagina. It influences how others resond to you but determining that you should be treated as either a male or female. Gender identity is a person's internal sense of being male or female. For most, gender identity is permanent and congruent with sexual anatomy and assigned gender. Gender roles are the attitudes, behaviors, rights, and responsibilities that society associated with each sex. Gender role is influenced by culture, age, ethnicity, and environmental factors that determine gender-related patterns of behavior.