Question 1

Sexual differentiation of the genitals begins earlier in pregnancy than sexual differentiation of the brain.

Accepted Answer

Sexual differentiation of the genitals begins around the 6th week of pregnancy, while sexual differentiation of the brain begins around the 12th week of pregnancy.

Question 2

Research shows that parents allow boys more flexibility in toy choices than girls.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Most hormonal secretions are regulated by the brain.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain are responsible for regulating the secretion of most hormones in the body.

Question 4

An androgynous individual has ambiguous genitals.

Accepted Answer

Androgyny refers to a blend of masculine and feminine characteristics in terms of appearance, behavior, or identity, and does not specifically relate to genital ambiguity, which is more accurately described by the term intersex.

Question 5

Iran has one of the highest rates of sexual reassignment surgery in the world.

Accepted Answer

Iran has one of the highest rates of sexual reassignment surgeries in the world. The Iranian government began offering financial assistance for sex reassignment surgery in 1987, and the country's medical community is experienced and skilled in performing such surgeries. Additionally, Iran's laws allow for transgender individuals to legally change their gender without requiring surgery.

Question 6

What does the term "gender-neutral housing" refer to on college campuses?

Accepted Answer

Gender-neutral housing refers to housing arrangements where students of any gender can share rooms, allowing for more inclusive living situations beyond traditional gender binaries.

Question 7

Someone with Turner syndrome would look like a genetic female at birth.

Accepted Answer

Turner syndrome occurs when a female is missing all or part of one of the two X chromosomes. This results in a female-looking genital appearance at birth, but other physical characteristics such as short stature and infertility may develop later in life.

Question 8

A child with gonads of one sex but ambiguous external genitalia is referred to as asexual.

Accepted Answer

A child with gonads of one sex but ambiguous external genitalia is referred to as intersex. Asexual refers to a lack of sexual attraction to others.

Question 9

The gender binary refers to the traditional division of people into two groups as male or female.

Accepted Answer

The gender binary is the belief that there are only two genders, male and female, and that each person is either one or the other. This traditional division fails to acknowledge the existence of non-binary or gender non-conforming individuals.

Question 10

In typical development, if the male contributes a Y chromosome, the child will be male.

Accepted Answer

This is because the presence of a Y chromosome typically leads to the development of male characteristics.

Question 11

If you visually compared the sexual development of third-week female and male embryos, what would you notice?

Accepted Answer

At the third week of embryonic development, neither male nor female embryos have developed testes or ovaries yet. Sexual differentiation occurs later in embryonic development.

Question 12

If a person identifies as a woman, we can assume that person has female genitalia.

Accepted Answer

Gender identity and biological sex are two different things. While a person who identifies as a woman may have female genitalia, it's not always the case. Transgender women, for example, may have male genitalia. It's important to respect people's gender identity regardless of their biological sex.

Question 13

In the 1500s, King Henry VIII of England divorced Catherine of Aragon because she gave birth to a daughter not a son. Henry VIII's reasoning was:

Accepted Answer

Sperm cells carry either an X or a Y chromosome, which determines the sex of the offspring. Therefore, it is inaccurate to blame Catherine of Aragon for giving birth to a daughter instead of a son.

Question 14

The pairs of chromosomes that determine the sex of the child are the autosomes.

Accepted Answer

The pairs of chromosomes that determine the sex of the child are called sex chromosomes, not autosomes. Autosomes are the remaining pairs of chromosomes in a human body that do not determine sex.

Question 15

Breasts are an example of secondary sexual characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Secondary sexual characteristics are physical features that develop during puberty and differentiate males and females. Examples of secondary sexual characteristics in females include breast development, wider hips, and the growth of pubic hair.

Question 16

Amenorrhea is a condition in which a female experiences excessive flow during menstruation.

Accepted Answer

Amenorrhea is actually the absence of menstruation, rather than excessive flow.

Question 17

In the famous Brenda/Bruce story, it was shown how a transgendered person could find psychological well-being through sex reassignment surgery.

Accepted Answer

The Brenda/Bruce story is about David Reimer, who was not transgender but was raised as a girl after a botched circumcision. His case is often cited to argue the importance of innate gender identity over socialization. He later reverted to living as a male but suffered psychological issues and eventually took his own life.

Question 18

What term refers to male and female sex organs which arise from the same tissue?

Accepted Answer

Homologous refers to male and female sex organs which arise from the same tissue.

Question 19

Androgens are important for sexual development, specifically in males.

Accepted Answer

Androgens are male sex hormones, responsible for male sexual development during puberty, including the growth of genitalia, deepening of the voice, and growth of body hair.

Question 20

What person would be diagnosed with a disorder of sex development?

Accepted Answer

Disorders of sex development refer to a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the genetic, gonadal and/or anatomical sex of an individual. Jordan, who has external male genitalia and internal female organs, would be diagnosed with a disorder of sex development. Jaden and Jennifer may identify as a gender different from their assigned sex, but this does not necessarily indicate a disorder of sex development. Jacob is a transgender man who underwent sex reassignment surgery, but this does not necessarily indicate a disorder of sex development either.

Quiz 4: Gender Development, Gender Roles, and Gender Identity