Gender IssuesGender Issues

© Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.

What is sex vs. gender?What is sex vs. gender?

• Sex = biological

• Gender = psychosocial (cultural)

What are the sex chromosomes?What are the sex chromosomes?

• Eggs = XX

• Sperm = XY

Prenatal sexual differentiationPrenatal sexual differentiation

• In the absence of male hormones, female external genitals will develop

Prenatal structurePrenatal structure

What are the prenatal structures?What are the prenatal structures?

• Female = Mullerian ducts

• Male = Wolffian ducts

What is the undifferentiated stage?What is the undifferentiated stage?

What is early genital What is early genital development?development?

What is advanced genital What is advanced genital development?development?

What is the peno-scrotal raphe?

What structures are homologous?What structures are homologous?

• Ovaries = Testicles

• Clitoris = glands of the penis

• Scrotum = major lips

Do you remember?Do you remember?

• What is the female and male sex chromosome pattern?

• What are the female prenatal structures?

• What are the male prenatal structures?

• What structures in the female are homologous to those in the male.

What is Transgender?What is Transgender?

• Transgender: – Umbrella term

• 16 or more intersex conditions• Transsexuals

– Listed in the DSM-V as “Gender identity disorder”

• Transvestites

What are intersex conditions?What are intersex conditions?

• Various chromosome, hormone, and developmental conditions that are not standard for male and female.

• At least 16 conditions– Includes:

• Turner Syndrome• Klinefelter syndrome• Androgen insensitivity syndrome• Ovo-testes (formerly called “true Hermaphroditism”)

What are chromosome errors?What are chromosome errors?• Turner’s syndrome• Klinefelters syndrome

What is Turner’s syndrome?What is Turner’s syndrome?

• (Sterile female with absent or underdeveloped ovaries)– XO

• Normal external female genitals

• Lack of menstruation at puberty

• Female gender identity

What is Klinefelters syndrome? What is Klinefelters syndrome? (sterile male with underdeveloped genitals) (sterile male with underdeveloped genitals)

• XXY chromosome pattern• Gender identity confusion

What are the prenatal What are the prenatal hormone errors?hormone errors?

• Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

• Fetally androgenized females (FAF)

What is Androgen Insensitivity What is Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)?Syndrome (AIS)?

• External genitals of male fetus fail to differentiate

• Newborn has normal-looking female external genitals

• Diagnosed when menstruation does not occur

What are fetally androgenized What are fetally androgenized females (FAF)?females (FAF)?

• Masculinized external organs

Do you remember?Do you remember?

• What are the characteristics of Turner’s syndrome?

• What are the characteristics of Klinefelters syndrome?

• What is Androgen Insensitivity syndrome?

• What is a fetally androgenized female?

John Money study of Joan/JohnJohn Money study of Joan/John

• Circumcision accident

• The effect of prenatal hormones on brain differentiation may be much more influential in gender-identity than was originally assumed.

Transvestite VS transsexualTransvestite VS transsexual

• Transvestite cross dresses for sexual arousal

• Transsexual cross dresses to feel comfortable and congruent

What is sex reassignment surgery? What is sex reassignment surgery?

– Sex change surgery– Transsexuals feel trapped in a body of the

“wrong” sex– Cross dresses to feel comfortable and

congruent• More men (M-F) than women (F-M)• Ratio is narrowing

– Most preoperative transsexual persons feel they are heterosexual.

M-F transsexual surgeryM-F transsexual surgery

M-F transgender surgery resultsM-F transgender surgery results

F-M transgender surgery resultsF-M transgender surgery resultsBefore After (Artificial testicles)

Do you remember?Do you remember?

• What did we learn from the John Money study?

• What is the difference between a transvestite and a transsexual?

• What sexual orientation do most preoperative transsexual persons feel they have?