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Chapter 4:
Gender in Today’s Society

Gender in Today’s Society

Overview

  • The Pregnant Man
  • Definitions of gender within a society

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Definitions

Definitions

Factors that determine sex of individuals

  • Internal sex organs

Females: fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina

Males: epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles

  • External genitals

Females: vulva

Males: penis , scrotum

Definitions

  • Gender refers to the social and psychological characteristics associated with being male or female
  • Females are often viewed as moody, talkative, nurturing
  • Males are viewed as competitive, strong, and protectors

Definitions

Gender Identity

A person’s psychological sense of whether he or she is male or female

Gender Identity Disorder is the American Psychiatric diagnosis for people who repeatedly show or feel, a strong desire to be the opposite sex and are uncomfortable with their birth-sex

Definitions

  • Transgenderist: person with biological sex of one gender and the identity of another gender. Does not undergo any medical procedures.
  • Transsexual: person with biological sex of one gender and the identity of another gender. This person undergoes medical procedures to change to sex he or she identifies with.

Nurture of Nature

  • Some research states 75% of homosexuals believe homosexuality is inherited
  • Evidence
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Tends to run in families

Nature or Nurture

Evidence for Choice (environmental factors)

  • Abusive sexual experiences as a child
  • Parent’s influence
  • Church teachings

Examples of Transgender

Thomas Beatie

  • Born a woman named Tracy Logondino
  • As a young girl, preferred rough and tumble games to “girly” activities
  • At age 12, her mother committed suicide
  • Her father began pushing her to enter beauty pageants
  • At age 14, entered Miss Teen Hawaii

Examples of Transsexual

Thomas Beatie: 20 years old

  • Began karate lessons, bodybuilding activities
  • Began to take testosterone to become a transgender male
  • Becomes a transsexual with the removal of his breasts. He keeps his female reproductive system
  • Marries a woman (as a transsexual man)

Thomas Beatie Cont.

  • Thomas Beatie’s wife is unable to conceive
  • Beatie stops taking testosterone and begins to revert back to his biological female sex
  • Thomas is artificially inseminated and becomes pregnant
  • Thomas gave birth to a daughter in 2008

Examples of Transsexual

Chastity Bono

  • Chastity was born into a family of television entertainers
  • As a child, she wore frilly dresses and ribbons and bows
  • Enjoyed “male activities” more than female activities

Chastity Bono

  • As an adult, Chastity acknowledged that she was a lesbian
  • Her mother (Cher) experienced difficulty in accepting this new identity
  • Chastity began to live with another woman

Chastity Bono

  • At age 40, Chastity decides to undergo a medical procedure to become a man
  • Her name is changed to Chaz
  • Chaz states that this was the right decision for him
  • He continues to take hormones to enhance male features

Gender Identification in Children

  • Gender Identification people are often victims of bullying and ridicule
  • Children of transsexual and transgender parents face prejudice and social hostility
  • They are made to feel ashamed and alone

Gender Identification in Adolescence

  • Teenagers will often enter a state

of denial

  • They become victims of discrimination in many adolescent social activities such as proms
  • Many will become anxious, depressed, and even suicidal

Gender Identification in Adults

  • As adults, transgender people receive limited medical health care
  • Transgender is labeled as a psychological disorder which limits medical coverage

Law

Questions

  • Who is the “real” mother in the Thomas Beatie family?
  • Should Thomas Beatie receive maternity leave?
  • Should medical insurance include sex change operations?
  • There is concern about a fetus being exposed to large amounts of testosterone during the pregnancy. High levels of testosterone in the uterus can cause male type characteristics in a female baby.
  • Should Thomas Beatie be allowed to take testosterone during pregnancy?

References

  • ABC Oprah Interview, April 3, 2008.
  • Silverman, Stephen, Huffington Report, June 2009.