3.4 Gender and Sexual Orientation

Sex vs. Gender

Sex refers to biologically determined characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, anatomy), while gender refers to the psychological and social meanings attached to being male, female, or another identity. Gender identity is one's personal sense of being male, female, or nonbinary, which may or may not match biological sex. Gender roles are cultural expectations for how people should behave based on gender.

Gender Development Influences

Gender development is shaped by biological factors (hormones like testosterone and estrogen), and by social/environmental influences like social learning (modeling, reinforcement) and gender schemas—mental frameworks that organize gender-related information and guide behavior. Gender typing describes acquiring a traditional masculine or feminine role, though many people exhibit androgyny, a blend of both traits.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to people of a particular sex or sexes, existing along a continuum (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, etc.). Research suggests orientation arises from an interaction of genetic, biological (e.g., prenatal hormone exposure), and environmental factors, and it is not a choice nor caused by parenting style.

Key terms

Sex

Biologically determined characteristics, including chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy.

Gender

The psychological and social meanings and expectations attached to being male, female, or another identity.

Gender schema

A cognitive framework that organizes and guides understanding of gender-related information and behavior.

Androgyny

Displaying a combination of traditionally masculine and feminine psychological traits.

Sexual orientation

An enduring pattern of attraction to people of a particular sex or sexes, shaped by genetic, biological, and environmental factors.

Try an AP-style question

Gender schema theory proposes that children…

1. form mental categories for gender
2. learn gender only by punishment
3. inherit gender roles fully
4. choose gender at puberty