User:NicoleGeisler/sandbox

What is Gender Identity

Gender identity is the social category that people use to describe themselves as female or male and what they psychologically feel them self’s as. Sexual identity should not be confused with gender identity. Sexual identity is how one thinks of oneself in terms of who they are romantically or sexually attracted to. Gender differs from sex as sex is the anatomical differences in male or female where is gender is a label given to something that is viewed as feminine or masculine depending on how society as a whole views it. These things can however become hard to differentiate from one another as they are so intertwined that its hard to tell where one starts and one ends (Angie Fee, 2006). so Gender identity can be quite confusing to some people especially ones who find them self's questioning they way they think compared to there physical body.

The Formation of Gender and Sex

The formation of ones gender identity and sex forms at different times. A boy or girl will usually categorize them self’s as male or female depending on there sex at about the age of 5 -7 and forming there gender identity at about the age of 6 to 10 and up to the age of 15 (Arnold Grossman, Anthony D'Augelli, 2006). But what happens when ones sex does not match there gender identity, is there something psychologically wrong or are society labels and standards of normal wrong. Most people are archetype meaning they think similarly when it comes to a certain thing as in sex and gender the norm is females to be feminine and males to be masculine.

Categorizing as feminine or masculine

Most every culture today has a definition of feminine or masculine starting with languages and which puts things in to categories that are either feminine or masculine, with few things having a category that is non gender. Most every thing has a category of being feminine or masculine colors for example like the color pink would be considered a feminine color and blue a masculine color. Names as well are categorized in the same way, Sarah being feminine and Bill being masculine. Things start to get complex when you start categorizing psychological thoughts as feminine or masculine. There are feminine guys and masculine girls and there sexual identity does not determine there gender identity contrary to popular cultural beliefs (David Cornfield, unknown).

Study's on Gender identity

There has not been many study’s on people with gender identity issues but the most recant one (GID YQ-AA) or Gender identity/gender dysphoria questionnaire for adolescents and adults which showed that there was very little gender dysphoria in there studied group. Meaning that the majority of the subjects where happy with there gender identity (Journal of sex research, 2007). Though the biggest difference seen was between heterosexual and non-heterosexual participants where as more non-heterosexual participants where unhappy with there gender identity, though over all most where happy with there gender identity weather they where male and had a female gender identity or female with a male gender identity. Also studies show that therapy on people with gender identity confusion was not working which could mean that someone who sees themselves as the opposite sex of there gender was in fact natural and there was nothing physiological wrong with them. (Chart can be seen below)

Society and Gender identity

Society however has not excepted this as in most society’s having a different gender identity compared to your sex is frowned upon or looked at as an illness. Contemporary Sexuality showed a study in which 528 participants took part in. The studies showed that verbal harassment, physical abuse, and even sexual attacks where much higher then that of someone who's gender identity alined with there sex. The study indicated that males where more likely to be targeted then females, 87% of males and 69% of females reported verbal harassment. When compared to physical abuse 15% of males and 7% of females reported being abused. Sexually assaulted victims where about 14% males and 5% of females in the study group. (Childhood Gender Aypicality...,2008, Vol. 42 Issue 4, p1-6, 4p ) Society has also placed a very social excitability on what a person can and can not do, for instance a boy who plays with girls toys is still frowned upon and if that child where to want to ware a dress society would be in an uproar. Tina Livingstone would say otherwise as she saying that it is more widely acceptable to be who one is, as well as talking about how there where wide ranges of civilizations through out many centuries that showed these cases and goes on to say “It is by no means a modern phenomenon, or product of any external influence” (Tina Livingstone,2004) but its hard to see her side when there is so many negative remarks towards this group of people. In a another article by Nick Duffell he states “Social efforts to embrace differences have not helped us deal with psychological and somatic confusion about gender.” people have jumped back and forth on this subject and many news articles have done story’s on children who did not conform to what was acceptable.

Causes of Gender identity (Psychological/environmental)

There has not yet been a psychological theory on what may cause it but study’s have showed hormonal disturbances during gestation may have something to do with the cause of gender identity confusion as well has ones sexual preference. Some study’s have also shown that some social and environmental factors could play a part in what makes a person chose there gender identity (Angela Oswalt, 2012). There is yet hard evidence on what physical or physiological causes gender identities. As it stands now there is no hard evidence as to what causes ones gender identity as well as if it is a psychological problem.

Fee, Angie Therapy Today, Feb2006, Vol. 17 Issue 1, p40-42, 3p

2006 study by Arnold Grossman PhD, And Anthony D'Augelli, PhD, co-published in the journal of homesexuality and current issues in lesbian, gay, biesxual and transgender health

Contemporary Sexuality, Nov/Dec2012, Vol. 46 Issue 9, p1-5, 3p Sallans, Ryan K

Journal of Sex Reasearch, Nov2007, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p370-379, 10p 3 Charts, 3 Graphs

Psychologist, Sep2009, Vol. 22 Issue 9, p738-738, 1/2p

“Childhood Gender Aypicality, Victimization, And PTSD Among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth.”Contemporary Sexuality, Apr2008, Vol. 42 Issue 4, p1-6, 4p

CPJ: Counselling & Psychotherapy Journal, Oct2004, Vol. 15 Issue 8, p13-15, 3p, 1 Color Photograph, 1 Chart Livingstone, Tina

Angela Oswalt, MSW, “Factors Influencing Gender Identity” 2012

David Cornfield, Creative Edge. “When Masculine Met Feminine” Unknown date

“Error of man Confirms itself in Australia” By Exministries (Picture used from article)

“Gender identity online therapy” Sophie Rinaldi. Oct 22nd 2011 (Picture used from article)