There is a lot to learn in this chapter! Here are most of the main points:
 

• What is the difference between sex and gender? What is gender identity? gender role?
• What is sexual differentiation?
• What are the stages of sexual differentiation?
• How many chromosomes do all the body cells (except the reproductive cells) have? How many do the reproductive cells have?
• What are chromosomes? What 2 types are there?
• What is the difference between autosomes and sex chromosomes? What two types of sex chromosomes are there?
• What sex chromosome is carried on the egg? the sperm? How many autosomes does an egg have? a sperm?
• How many sex chromosomes do eggs and sperm have?
• Describe the combination of chromosomes when the sperm fertilizes the egg.
• What are 4 chromosomal errors which affect sexual differentiation? Describe the chromosomal abnormality and what happens to the body during prenatal sexual development.
• What are gonads? How are they initially “bipotential”?
• Describe the prenatal development of the testes and the ovaries.
• Which two hormones are considered “female”? What are hormones are primarily released in males?
• What does it mean that “the basic fetus is female”?
• How do hormones affect prenatal sexual development? Describe how the development ot the external reproductive organs.
• What are homologous organs?
• What is a hermaphrodite? a pseudohermaphrodite?
• What are three hormonal errors that can affect prenatal sexual development? Describe what happens in each of them.
• What is brain differentiation or lateralization? What two areas of the brain are most likely involved in this? Describe possible sex differences in these areas.
• How does brain lateralization explain gender differences in certain types of abilities? What are some problems with this explanation?
• What are four types of gender roles according to Bem. Explain them. Can both males and females belong to any of those four categories of gender roles? What do they imply about sexual orienation?
• What do we mean by the nature/nurture debate? Describe these different perspectives of explanations for gender differences.
• Why can Margaret Mead’s work be cited as evidence for the learning (or nurture) explanations of gender roles? Describe her findings.
• Describe the behavioral perspective. How does it explain gender role development? What are some problems with this explanation?
• What is modeling? What is a symbolic model? How does it explain gender role development? What are some problems with this explanation?
• Describe the cognitive developmental explanation of gender role development. What is gender identity? gender constancy?
• Describe Freud’s psychoanalytic explanation of gender role development. What is the Oedipus Complex? the Electra Complex? What are some problems with this theory?
• What is sociobiology? What are two of it’s important assumptions? How does it explain sex role development?
• What is mate selection? How do sociobiologists explain gender differences in mate selection?
• What are some criticisms of the sociobiological theory?
• How can hormonal differences explain gender differences and gender roles? Is this an explanation that is supported by research?
• What is a transsexual? gender dysphoria?
• How is transsexuality different than homosexuality?
• What are the stages (activities) that occur before someone goes through sex changes surgery? Why are these necessary?
• What happens during sex change surgery? What legal implications are there for those who go through the surgery?

This is not necessarily a complete list of topics covered. Please consult your text and lecture notes for omissions.

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