Chapter 4 Beyond the Sex/Gender Binary Exam Prep

Chapter 4: Beyond the Sex/Gender Binary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

4.1 Challenging Heteronormative Assumptions about Sex and Gender

4.1a. Differentiate between binary and non-binary concepts of gender and understand the restrictions of the sex/gender binary.

4.1b. Identify the components of the traditional model of how biological factors, gender identity, and sexual orientation relate to each other.

4.1c. Describe some common assumptions, criticisms, and limitations of the traditional model.

4.2 Transgender: An Umbrella Term

4.2a. Differentiate between different identities within the umbrella term of transgender.

4.2b. Apply components of each identity to gender expression and self-categorization, recognizing the diverse ways that transgender individuals may choose to identify.

4.2c. Identify some of the diverse choices that transgender individuals face regarding gender-affirming medical interventions, including the transition process and its obstacles.

4.2d. Understand what privilege is and how it applies to opportunities, behaviors, and treatment from society.

4.2e. Differentiate between different forms of prejudice faced by transgender individuals.

4.2f. Define the concept of stigma awareness and apply it to a real-world situation.

4.2g. Describe the concerns of sexual minority individuals and the forms of discrimination they may face, including how this may shape fears they have.

4.3 Complicating Gender Assignment

4.3a. Describe the characteristics of Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and Turner’s syndrome (TS) and explain how they make it difficult to understand sex as a binary.

4.3b. Identify and describe the three conditions related to hormones that complicate the understanding of sex as a binary.

4.3c. Explain what it means for genitalia to be “ambiguous,” and apply the different connotations of “ambiguous” genitalia and how they may relate to stigma from society at large and the medical community.

4.3d. Understand why immediate medical intervention for children with intersex condition may cause more harm than good.

4.4 Sexual Diversity

4.4a. Define sexual orientation and differentiate it from gender identity.

4.4b. Identify some of the less well-known sexual orientations.

4.4c. Define heterosexism.

4.4d. Describe sexual configurations theory.

4.4e. Understand how gender identity can complicate the way people identify their sexual orientation.

4.4f. Define and identify the components of sexuality stress shift and apply it to the process of transitioning.

4.4g. Describe the process through which some women develop sexual minority identities, and explain how this can be more complex for non-monosexual women.

4.4h. Identify both positive and negative outcomes of coming out, including the negative biases and prejudices toward non-straight and non-cisgender individuals.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Institutions that only offer male and female bathrooms instead of gender-neutral bathrooms reinforce the concept of the

2. Caster Semenya, a South African runner, was forced to go through gender verification testing in 2009. This incident highlighted which of the following?

3. A limitation of the sex/gender binary related to biology is that it

4. Which of the following are criticisms made by feminist scholars of the traditional model of how biological factors, gender identity, and sexual orientation relate to one another?

5. The gender bundle metaphor proposes that aspects of sex/gender are

6. Jian-Yu was born biologically male, but wishes to be a woman. However, Jian-Yu is reluctant to come out as transgender and thus continues to use male pronouns, dresses as a man, and engages in behaviors that society labels as traditionally masculine. Jian-Yu is experiencing an inconsistency between _____ and _____.

7. Xin does not identify as either a man or woman and prefers the pronouns they, their, and them. Xin could best be described as a

8. Dr. Lopez identifies with more than one gender and uses the pronouns they/their/them. Dr. Lopez could be considered a _____ individual.

9. Michael, born Michelle, has recently come out as transgender to his family and has begun the gender transitioning process. His sister Amy has been supportive of him throughout the process, but Amy sometimes misses having a sister to share a female bond with. Amy is likely experiencing which of the following?

10. Riley was born biologically male but identifies as female. Riley has not undergone hormone therapy or surgery, though she plans to have gender-confirming/affirming surgery to change her sex to reflect her gender identity. Based on this information, Riley would be considered

11. Darnell, born Shanice, recently told his family that he wants to live as a man, only be referred to as “Darnell,” and use the pronouns he/him/his in reference to him. Darnell’s parents and siblings now consistently call him Darnell, use his preferred pronouns, and refer to him as their son or brother. His family’s behavior is an example of

12. Which of the following hormones delays the onset of changes associated with puberty?

13. Why do some individuals prefer to be referred to as “transgender” over “transsexual”?

14. Which of the following scenarios exemplifies cisgender privilege?

15. Which of the following transgender individuals is facing a transitioning obstacle?

16. The psychiatric community previously classified transgender individuals as having gender identity disorder. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) now uses the diagnosis of gender _____, which is characterized by a strong desire to be treated as the “other” gender or to want to change “one’s sex characteristics.”

17. A study conducted by Xavier and Simmons (2000) found that ___ percent of transgender participants reported unfavorable treatment from the medical community.

18. Destiny is a cisgender woman and Aaliyah is a transgender woman. The minority stress theory would predict that Aaliyah will likely

19. Andrew is a cisgender and middle-class White man whose family has been in the United States for six generations. Adam is a transgender Black man whose parents are Nigerian immigrants. Though Adam is now middle class, he grew up in a lower-class background when his family first emigrated to the U.S. Adam, compared to Andrew, is at greater risk of negative psychological and physical health outcomes, as predicted by

20. Brendan, a high school student, wishes that he had been born a girl and named Brenda. Brendan has not told this to anyone out of fear of rejection and wishes he “felt” more like a boy. Brendan’s feelings are likely the result of which of the following?

21. If a transgender person is of a younger age, racial minority status, and lower socioeconomic status, this person has a greater risk of

22. Rachel and Heather are both transgender women who have been friends since high school, and they live in different cities in the Midwest. Rachel was recently threatened with eviction by her landlord when the landlord found out that Rachel is transgender, and Heather is now afraid that her landlord will do the same if her transgender identity is discovered. Heather is experiencing which of the following?

23. Hector, a transman, refuses to apply for an internship at Mountaintop Law Firm because the organization has a history of mistreating LGBTQ employees and interns. Hector’s decision is the result of

24. A criticism of the LGBTQ community is that members of the community favor initiatives that mostly benefit which of the following groups of people?

25. Joshua Chan and Joshua Wilson are both transmen. Joshua Chan is very close with his family, takes pride in his Asian identity, and is involved in social and political activism that supports the LGBTQ community. Joshua Wilson is estranged from his family, feels disconnected with his ethnic identity, and is not actively involved in social or political causes. Psychologists would predict that

26. Which of the following accurately describes the process of nondisjunction?

27. An individual with the chromosomal type XXY would best fit the criteria for being diagnosed with

28. Hypogonadism, which entails difficulty in producing sperm due to lower levels of testosterone, affects individuals who have been diagnosed with

29. An individual with the chromosomal type XO would best fit the criteria for being diagnosed with

30. Sex differentiation, the process of developing sex-specific characteristics, typically begins during the _____ week of pregnancy.

31. Which of the following accurately defines gonads?

32. Individuals with complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS) _____, whereas individuals with partial androgen insensitivity (PAIS) _____.

33. Dylan is taller than the average male, very muscular, has a deep speaking voice, and is prone to getting into physical fights. Dylan’s medical doctor recently conducted genetic testing and noticed a hormonal abnormality. Dylan would most likely be diagnosed with which of the following?

34. 5-alpha reductase deficiency is a condition in which

35. When a newborn has “ambiguous” genitalia, parents typically experience a shift from happiness to

36. Which if the following is NOT a biological marker used by medical providers in determining sex assignments of newborns in non-Western cultures?

37. Some scholars believe that the idea of “ambiguous” genitalia conceptually _____ the notion of _____.

38. The term ____ was used in the past to describe “ambiguous” genitalia, where terms such as “intersex” and “disorders of sex development” are more widely used nowadays.

39. A benefit of using the term “differences” of sex development rather than “disorders” of sex development is that it

40. Medical procedures performed on intersex newborns are considered medical emergencies even though these procedures are purely cosmetic and carry more health risks than health benefits. The idea that these procedures need to be performed quickly or even at all illustrates which of the following?

41. Which of the following is a criticism of medical interventions conducted with intersex newborns?

42. Forms of genitoplasty performed on intersex individuals include which of the following?

43. Lindsay, a teenager, recently discovered that she is intersex and that her parents consented to genitoplasty for her shortly after her birth. Lindsay is likely experiencing which of the following feelings?

44. Shawn is reluctant to schedule a physical with his medical doctor because the last time he was at the hospital, his doctor invited a group of residents into the room to examine his post-surgical results, and they also spoke about Shawn in a way that made him feel very detached from his sense of self. This concept is referred to as

45. Intersex advocacy groups would be most likely to support and endorse neutral, non-stigmatizing language related to which of the following?

46. A person’s sexual orientation is ____ his/her/their gender identity.

47. Sexual orientation may encompass

48. Spencer is a cisgender woman who has dated both cisgender men and cisgender women. Spencer typically does not experience attraction toward another person until they have known one another for some time and formed a strong emotional attachment to one another. Spencer’s sexual orientation could be best described as

49. Aiden is romantically attracted to women, but he does not experience sexual attraction to any individual, regardless of their gender identity. Aiden’s sexual orientation could best be described as

50. Jordan does not consider homosexuality to be a valid sexual orientation. Instead, he believes that anyone who self-identifies as gay or lesbian is simply going through a phase and that all individuals are exclusively attracted to people of the opposite sex. Jordan’s thinking endorses which of the following?

51. The Kinsey Scale illustrates that sexual orientation is

52. The Genderbread Person is one way to visually represent the

53. According to the sexual configurations theory (SCT),

54. Feminist psychologist Sari van Anders (2015) is credited with developing which of the following concepts?

55. Darius has been romantically interested in both men and women, but he has no interest in engaging in sexual activities with women. He has consistently had male sexual partners and reports high levels of sexual attraction to men. Darius could best be described as _____ and _____.

56. Lily has many close friends, but she has not had a significant other in many years. She recently realized that she simply did not have any motivation to seek romantic connections with others and that she is very fulfilled living her life without a romantic partner. Lily is most likely

57. The sexuality shift stress explains the process of a(n)

58. Which of the following individuals would be described as having a monosexual identity?

59. Which of the following is a negative stereotype associated with non-monosexual individuals mentioned is the text?

60. Bisexual individuals may encounter binegativity from which of the following groups of individuals?

61. Why might some bisexual individuals choose to describe their sexual identity differently depending on the gender of their current partner?

62. For LGBTQ individuals, the coming-out process tends to be a

63. Which of the following is a possible reason for why White LGBTQ people face fewer barriers in coming out compared to LGBTQ people from racial/ethnic minority groups?

64. Homosexual individuals who wish they were heterosexual are likely experiencing which of the following?

65. Solange and Brittany have just come out to their families. Solange’s parents and siblings have all reacted positively, providing her with unconditional support and acceptance. Brittany’s family has expressed disapproval and rejected her identity as a lesbian. Compared to Brittany, Solange is likely to experience _____ and _____.

1. Differentiate between binary and non-binary concepts of gender.

2. List some of the criticisms of the heteronormative model of sex/gender. Explain how this might shape an individual’s gender identity and development process.

3. Identify the stages of transgender identity development as described in the text. List and briefly describe each stage along with potential challenges of each stage.

4. List some of the medical interventions an individual who identifies as transgender can consider, and explain the potential benefits and risks of these options.

5. Summarize the challenges for and reactions to newborns born with “ambiguous” genitalia.

6. List some of the concerns associated with medical interventions and treatment of intersex individuals, as raised by advocates.

7. Describe the Genderbread Person and summarize each of its components. Apply each of the components to someone you know personally and analyze how each component of the Genderbread Person affects this person’s identity and gender expression.

8. Identify some of the risk factors associated with coming out for LGBTQ individuals. Provide examples of potential outcomes that depend on how accepting the reactions are to an LGBTQ adolescent who comes out.