Gender identity is defined as a personal conception of oneself as male or female. This concept is intimately related to the concept of gender roles, which is defined as the outward manifestations of personality that reflect their gender identity.
For a lot of people, the terms “gender” and “sex” are used interchangeably, but that is incorrect. This idea has become so common in societies that are hardly questioned. When we are born we are assigned a sex. For many people that is not a problem but for some gender is not inherently or solely connected to one’s physical anatomy.
Your biological gender or sex includes many physical components such as sex chromosomes, sex hormones, and internal reproductive structures. At birth, it is used to …show more content…
There is an ongoing debate in psychology about this, known as nature versus nurture. Both factors are thought to play a role. Biological factors that influence gender identity include pre- and post-natal hormone levels. While genetic makeup influences your identity it does not inflexibly determine it. Social factors that may influence gender identity include ideas regarding gender roles conveyed by family, authority figures, mass media, and other influential people in a child's life. Language also can play a role: children, while learning a language, learn to separate masculine and feminine characteristics and unconsciously adjust their own behavior to these predetermined roles. The social learning theory says that children furthermore develop their gender identity through observing and imitating gender-linked behaviors, and then being rewarded or punished for behaving that way, therefore being shaped by the people surrounding them through trying to imitate and follow …show more content…
People with mental health issues can be treated, but they require careful assessment to ensure the gender identity disorder is not related to the underlying mental health issue.
Though children may experience discomfort with their gender during their childhood years, not all individuals who display atypical gendered behaviors in childhood go on to identify as transsexual as adults. In fact, many people who prefer to identify as the opposite gender during childhood no longer feel that way after puberty. Though 5% of girls and 2.6% of boys show opposite sex behaviors during childhood, this percentage shrinks to 2% of girl and 1% of boys in adolescence
Inclusion of GID in the upcoming Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-V) has been a subject of debate. As the DSM currently considers GID as an illness that can be “treated”. The lack of understanding about true causes and considerations of GID only leads to discriminatory, stereotyped classifications of individuals developing their gender identities. By increasing public knowledge about gender identity development beyond the heterosexuality tradition, we may be able to improve social acceptance for both children and adults diagnosed with
For a lot of people, the terms “gender” and “sex” are used interchangeably, but that is incorrect. This idea has become so common in societies that are hardly questioned. When we are born we are assigned a sex. For many people that is not a problem but for some gender is not inherently or solely connected to one’s physical anatomy.
Your biological gender or sex includes many physical components such as sex chromosomes, sex hormones, and internal reproductive structures. At birth, it is used to …show more content…
There is an ongoing debate in psychology about this, known as nature versus nurture. Both factors are thought to play a role. Biological factors that influence gender identity include pre- and post-natal hormone levels. While genetic makeup influences your identity it does not inflexibly determine it. Social factors that may influence gender identity include ideas regarding gender roles conveyed by family, authority figures, mass media, and other influential people in a child's life. Language also can play a role: children, while learning a language, learn to separate masculine and feminine characteristics and unconsciously adjust their own behavior to these predetermined roles. The social learning theory says that children furthermore develop their gender identity through observing and imitating gender-linked behaviors, and then being rewarded or punished for behaving that way, therefore being shaped by the people surrounding them through trying to imitate and follow …show more content…
People with mental health issues can be treated, but they require careful assessment to ensure the gender identity disorder is not related to the underlying mental health issue.
Though children may experience discomfort with their gender during their childhood years, not all individuals who display atypical gendered behaviors in childhood go on to identify as transsexual as adults. In fact, many people who prefer to identify as the opposite gender during childhood no longer feel that way after puberty. Though 5% of girls and 2.6% of boys show opposite sex behaviors during childhood, this percentage shrinks to 2% of girl and 1% of boys in adolescence
Inclusion of GID in the upcoming Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-V) has been a subject of debate. As the DSM currently considers GID as an illness that can be “treated”. The lack of understanding about true causes and considerations of GID only leads to discriminatory, stereotyped classifications of individuals developing their gender identities. By increasing public knowledge about gender identity development beyond the heterosexuality tradition, we may be able to improve social acceptance for both children and adults diagnosed with