Sex and Gender

1
Sex and Gender

• Difference between sex and gender?
• Sex Biologically determined. Chromosomes (XX,
  XY). Hormones in the womb (around the 7th week)
  give rise to anatomical sex (external genitalia
  that match genes on the sex chromosomes).
• Hormones are labeled androgens. High presence
  leads to male genitalia.
• At puberty, increases in testosterone and
  estrogen lead to the secondary sex
  characteristics.

2
Biological Differences

• Many fewer differences than historically believed
  (e.g., history of intelligence testing)
• Proportion of fat to muscle increases in girls at
  puberty
• Secondary sex characteristics
• Lower blood pressure (linked to pregnancy)
• Females suffer less frequently from
  cardiovascular disease (may be work related)

3
More Biological Differences?

• The following differences had been assumed to be
  biological, but most evidence points to culture
  now.
• Math ability boys pass girls at the high school
  level
• Spatial ability boys better. But differences
  diminish with training
• Verbal ability recent research counters belief
  that girls are better

4
Gender

• The cultural manifestations of sex
• Roles and expectations created by society
• Where do these expectations come from?
• Parents
• Media (e.g., TV)
• School

5
Gender and School

• Girls begin formal schooling w/ a test advantage.
  By the SAT the advantage is gone. Why?
• Girls asked more personal-social questions than
  boys by pre-school teachers
• Early childhood teachers spend 2/3 of their time
  with boys
• At all levels of schooling, more time w/ boys

6
School and Discrimination

• More called out responses accepted from boys
  (girls should be polite)
• Girls learn better in cooperative environments
  (how is school set up?)
• 79 of teacher organized demonstrations in
  science are carried out by males
• Childrens books are more sensitive to gender,
  but textbooks are often not

7
Discrimination

• Jobs and Wages women make 70 cents for each
  dollar earned by men
• Female stereotyped jobs skills are less valued
• Females placed in entry level (and less stable)
  jobs
• When men take female jobs they are usually put
  in administrative positions
• Starts with allowance!!!

8
Sexual Harassment

• Use of power to secure sexual favors
• Unwanted advances
• Creation of a hostile situation
• One issue is confusion for boys in school where
  does teasing end and harassment begin