Understanding the Self by Corpuz

The Sexual Self

Our self-concept refers to the knowledge and belief that we have and the
evaluation that we make about ourselves. The elements of our self-concept are self-
schemas, or those specific beliefs that help us organize and guide our processing of
self- relevant information (Myers & Twenge, 2017). These schemas provide direction to
our action and coherence to our identity.

Our sexual self comprises a complex set of schemas that allow us to understand
and express ourselves as sexual beings We hold self-schemas that pertain to our sex,
gender, sexual orientation and sexual expression/responses. Sex refers to the
biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women and that
constitutes the sex categories of male and female (World Health Organization, 2014). It
is sometimes referred to as biological or assigned sex as it is based on what a pers is
endowed by nature or at birth. Gender, on the other hand refers to the attitudes,
feelings and behaviors that a given culn associates with a person's biological sex
(American Psychological Association, 2012). Gender identity is an internal awareness of
where the individual belongs in the feminine and masculine categories. One may
identify with either of these categories, or as neither, such as in the case of people who
label themselves "gender queer," "gender variant," or "gender fluid." Sexual orientation
refers to the direction of one's sexual and romantic interests (Rathus, 2014). Categories
used to describe sexual orientation are heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Finally,
we have schemas that guide how we express ourselves in sexual relationships.

Many might find it easy to describe themselves simply as men or women

because there is congruence in the schemas related to their sexual self. However, as
we know there are others who have a different experience and who find that those self-
schemas are not in agreement with each other.

The society at large tends to also see human beings simply as men or women.
MAMAWA is an abbreviation used for "Men-Are-Men-And-Women-Are-Women"
assumption. Although it could have been better abbreviated as MAMAWAWA, but that
is how it is referred to by Pinel (2014). It is a simplistic and heuristic reference to what
makes a man a man and a woman based on age-old traditions and perspectives of
these two genders. This assumption has been strongly questioned now particularly
because of the modern roles that males and females play which may no longer fit the
gender stereotypes. This kind of thinking that views sex or gender as based on core or
innate differences, pervades most of society. Among the assumptions is that "female
hormones" and "male hormones" fuel the different sexes leading to differences in
their shape and behavior. Others tend to quickly summarize their assumptions about
sex or gender differences with lines such as men are from Mars and women are from
Venus.
 While we may be drawn by the simplicity and comfortable social implications of
"mamawa," this assumption is flawed (Pinel, 2014). This assumption over emphasizes
the role of nature and explains differences between males and females mainly from this
perspective. It is important, however, to understand the interplay between nature and
nurture in our conception of the sexual self. Therefore, the intended learning outcome of
this Chapter is to expand our understanding about the sexual self by looking at its
multiple dimensions that consist of both biological and environmental influences.

Lesson 1

The Biological Sex

The Beginning of our Biological Sex

Our biological sex begins with the sex chromosomes that we inherit from our
parents during the time of fertilization, that is the fusion of the sex cells of our parents.
These sex chromosomes are so called, because they genetically program the organism
10 develop either along a female or male line. The mother's egg cells typically carry an
X chromosome while the father's sperm cells are split into two half have has X
chromosomes while the other half have has Y chromosomes. If the sperm with an X
chromosome fertilizes the egg cell first, then the resulting XX pair of sex chromosomes
produces a girl. However, if the one with a Y chromosome successfully unites with the
egg cell, then the XY pair produces a boy. It should be noted though that the X and Y
chromosomes are not named after their shape but to indicate the difference in their
appearance. X chromosomes are bigger than the Y chromosomes that on earlier
investigation appeared to lack a small arm While this earliest event that happened in our
lives when we were yet a zygote, or a single-cell organism, assigned us to a particular
sex, it did not lead to an automatic divergence of sexual development in boys and in
girls. In fact, sex is initially undifferentiated in the embryo up until a certain time. Most
importantly, sexual development basically follows a natural principle that genetically
programmed all human beings to develop female bodies (Freberg, 2010). In the case of
males, there was an interference in the course that led them to develop male bodies;
otherwise they could have developed female bodies.

There are important stages that distinctly defined the development of our
biological sex first, during the prenatal stage when the gonads, internal organs and
external genitalia are formed and then, in the pubertal stage when the secondary sex
characteristics developed.

Sexual Development

Prenatal Stage

Gonads

At 6 weeks after fertilization, regardless of gender, all embryos have identical

primordial gonads (primordial meaning "existing at the beginning) (Pinel, 2014). The
identical pair of gonadal structures consists of an outer covering, or cortex that has the
potential to become an ovary and an inner core, or medulla, that can potentially become
a testis. (See Figure 1 Earliest sexual development)

At about 6 weeks after conception, the SRY gene (so named because it is found
in the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome of the male embryos) triggers the
synthesis of SRY protein (Arnold, 2004). This protein causes the internal part, or the
medulla, of each gonad to grow and develop into testes. In female embryos that lack the
SRY gene that encodes the SRY protein, the primordial gonads automatically develop
into ovaries.

Internal Organs

Until about the third month in the prenatal development, both embryos possess
the same reproductive ducts including a male Wolffian system and a female Müllerian
system (Freberg. 2010). The Wolffian system has the potential to develop into the
male reproductive ducts comprising the epididymis, vas deferens, ejaculatory duct and
seminal vesicles (Witchel & Lee, 2014). The Müllerian system, on the other hand, has
the capacity to form into the fallopian tubes, the uterus and the upper portion of the
vagina (Goodman, 2009)

This duplication in the reproductive ducts of the male and female embryos soon
changes when at the third month, the male's newly developed testes begin to secrete
two hormones: the testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormones (Freberg. 2010). The
testosterone, the most common type of androgen hormones, stimulates the
development of the Wolffian system while the anti- Müllerian hormone inhibits the
development of the Müllerian system. Unlike the male testes that become activated
and began releasing hormones, the female ovaries are almost completely inactive
during the fetal development. The differentiation of the female internal ducts does not
require any hormone at all. Normal female fetuses and even those ovariectomized
female fetuses (those whose ovaries have been removed) all develop in the typical
female direction.
Figure 1 Earliest sexual development

External Organs

At 6 weeks after fertilization, the external reproductive organs for both males and
females-begin to differentiate from initially the same 4 parts: the glans, the urethral
folds, the lateral bodies and the labioscrotal swellings (Pinel, 2014). The glans
develops into the head of the penis in the male or clitoris in the female: the urethral folds
fuse in the male while become enlarged as the labia minor a in the female; the lateral
bodies form the haft of the penis in the male or the hood of clitoris in the female; and the
labioscrotal swellings form the scrotum in the male or the labia major a in the female.

Puberty Stage

As children transition into adulthood, they pass the puberty stage that is
characterized by adolescent growth spurt, maturity of the external genitalia and
the development of secondary sex characteristics. Secondary sex characteristics
are those physical changes that distinguish sexual maturity in women and in men. The
changes that occur during puberty are mainly caused by increased production of
hormones. The anterior pituitary releases high levels of growth hormone that acts
directly on the bones and muscle tissues resulting in growth spurt (Pinel, 2014). The
hypothalamus releases the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that stimulates
the anterior pituitary gland to release two gonadotropic hormones: follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (Freberg, 2010). Both hormones are
present in males and females but produce different effects. In males, FSH and LH
cause the testes to release testosterone while in females, they stimulate the ovaries to
produce estradiol (most common type of estrogen). The testes also produce estradiol in
low amount; similarly, the ovaries release androgens, including testosterone, in small
amount.

The higher the levels of androgen than estrogen, masculinization occurs. Thus,
in the case of males, transformations include development of muscle mass and
strength, broadening of shoulders and chest, growth of facial and body hair including in
the underarm, abdomen, chest and pubic area, enlargement of the larynx and the
deepening of voice. Likewise, the more abundant amount of estrogen than androgen
results in feminization. In females, typical changes include enlargement of breasts,
changes in fat distribution and quantity, widening of the hips, growth of body hair in the
underarm and pubic area and maturity of the uterus.

Abnormalities in Sexual Development

For the majority, the processes by which the gonads, the internal and the
external organs develop produce an unambiguous male or female. However, there are a
certain conditions in which sex characteristics including chromosomes, sex hormones,
external and internal reproductive organs, do not fit with the typical male or female
biological make-up. Among the inter sex conditions described below by Freberg. (2010)
& Pinel (2014) are Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS), Adrenogenital
Syndrome, and 5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). Individuals with AIS have an XY

genotype but develop a female appearance Remember that in male embryos, their
testes produce androgens and anti-Müllerian hormone. In the case of AIS. there is a
mutation in the androgen receptors such that they become unresponsive, or it is as if no
androgens are released. This non- reactivity to androgen prevents the development of
the Wolffian system, which is the antecedent of the male internal organ Because the
anti-Müllerian hormone functions normally, the internal female reproductive system does
not also fully develop resulting to a shallow vagina, with no uterus, fallopian tubes and
ovaries Although individuals with AIS are genetic males many have married and
maintained their female gender identity and physical appearance,

Androgenital Syndrome. The Androgenital syndrome is due to congenital

adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a heritable condition in which there is increased level of
androgens. This has little observable effects in males because they are typically
exposed to high levels of androgens. Females born with CAH, who have higher than
typical amounts of androgen circulating in their system, develop ambiguous external
genitalia such as an enlarged clitoris and fused labia and in some cases, no vaginal
opening Behavior is also affected, in which they display tomboyishness engage more in
male-related activities, and are more likely to engage in bisexual and lesbian behavior.
However, it should b noted that majority of women with CAH are heterosexual and that
the majority of bisexual and lesbian women do not have CAH or other similar conditions.

5-Alpha-Reductase Deficiency. Individuals born with this condition have

deficient enzyme known as that converts testosterone into 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone.
The 5-Alpha-reductase 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone is responsible for the
masculinization of the external organs of fetus. Those with this condition have
ambiguous external genitals and are commonly raised as girls. At puberty, increased
levels of testosterone lead to the development of male secondary sex characteristics. In
a surprising turn of events, these individuals raised as girls develop normal male
external organs and take a male gender identity.

The Case of John/ Joan

The case of John/ Joan, or Bruce Peter Reimer in real life, created one of the
greatest controversies about the effects of nature and nurture in one's sexual identity.
His life has been the subject of many books, documentaries and tv shows. Gaetano
(2017) described Bruce's life as follows.

Bruce was born a biological male, whose penis was irreparably damaged during
circumcision. Upon the advice of an expert known as John Money, Bruce's parents
decided to raise him as a girl. Bruce underwent a surgery in which an artificial vagina
was created. He was also given female hormones during puberty. After reassignment,
Bruce was given the name Brenda. Since infancy, Bruce/Brenda together with his twin
brother Brian regularly came to visit Money and were unknowingly the subjects of
Money's experiments: Money's academic works endorse the theory that gender is a
social construct and that it is fluid particularly early in life. His works had provided
justification for the sex reassignment surgeries of thousands of children who were born
with abnormal genitals.

Money had provided the public a very interesting report about John Joan, the
pseudonym he used for Bruce/Brenda, partly because of the availability of data of
Bruce's twin brother Brian. Money reported a successful transition for Brenda describing
her as girlish, in stark contrast to her twin brother's boyishness. However, Bruce
debunked these claims as an adult and recounted the trauma and anguish he suffered
while growing up. He reported that even as a child, he experienced great distress over
his assigned sex, now known today as gender dysphoria. Although he grew up.
programmed as a girl including engaging in girl's activities and interest and was
subjected to estrogen regimen by age 12, he had never identified himself as a girl. In
fact, he resented the changes that happened in his body like the development of his
breasts. At 13, he threatened to commit suicide if his parents would force him to go to
Money for their annual visit. At 15, his father revealed to him his medical history.
Immediately afterward, he assumed a male identity, renaming himself as David. He then
began male hormone therapy and went to surgery for removal of his breasts and
reconstruction of a penis. He subsequently married.

Later, Bruce bad participated in the study of Money academic rival Milton
Diamond and began speaking publicly about his early experience with sex
reassignment. He even collaborated the writing of his biography with the aim of saving
others through his life story, However, David, who had experienced depression for most
of his life took his life on May 4. 2004 days after his wife asked for divorce.

Gender and sexual Orientation

Gender is a term that is used to describe the characteristics, whether biologically or

socially-influenced, that people use to define males and females.

It is shaped by cultural expectations and social roles that affect people’s self-concept,
behaviors and aspiration.

Gender Identity usually starts with self-categorization that influences individuals to

engage in gender-typed behaviors.

Bem’s Gender Schema Theory

our identification as man or woman affects our development, because it directs what we
pay attention to and process.

Gender is traditionally understood based on binary categories: male/masculine and

female/feminine. Typically, girls and boys grow up to be more inclined to notice and to
engage in behaviors that are expected of their gender.

However, there are people who cannot identify with either of these binary categorization
and who find their interests and inclinations to be also non-typical. Below are different
terminologies compiled by Keener (2015) to help us understand this broad range of
gender identity.

Table 1; Gender Identity Terminologies

Cisgender Is a male or female that identifies with the sex that was
assigned at birth. Cisgender people also identify, to some
degree with the gender norms (excluding sexual orientation)
that are associated with their sex.
Genderqueer Is used to describe a gender identity when the binary
conceptualization of gender, male or female, does not
accurately describe an individual’s gendered outlook or self-
concept.
Intersex Describes a variety of medical conditions wherein an
individual’s reproductive anatomy or genitals do not fit the
binary definition of male or female.
Transgenderman/ Is a man whose sex is female but he lives and identifies as
Female to Man (FtM) male.
Transgender woman/ Is a woman whose sex is male but he lives and identifies as
 Male to Female (MtF) female.

Gender Expression

Or the manner by which people express themselves and behave may be true to their
gender identity such as when they convey their sense of femininity or masculinity
outward.

Sexual Orientation

Refers to the stable pattern of attraction or sexual interest that one has to a member of
a particular sex

The complete absence of any sexual interest.

Sexual Orientation Terminologies

Asexual Refers to the absence of physical or sexual attraction to

another human being. An asexual man or woman can have
romantic, intellectual.\, or emotional attractions to other
people but they do not engage in physical sexual acts.
Bisexual The sexual orientation that describes either a male or a
female who is attracted to both males and females
Gay Refer to either gam males and/or lesbians.
Gay males are self-identified men who are emotionally,
physically, romantically and/or sexually attracted to people
who identify as male.
Lesbian A self-identified female who is emotionally, physically,
romantically and/or sexually attracted to people who identify
as female.
Heterosexual An individual who identifies as either a male or female (can
be cisgender, FtM, or MtF) and is attracted to individuals of
the opposite sex.
Queer Is an umbrella term that is used to describe an individual’s
self-concept of their sexual orientation identity.

Factors contributing to Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation has been examined from the nature and nurture perspective, or
based on the biological make-up of the individual and environmental influences.

Biological Factor

 Maternal Immune Hypothesis

Which there are some mothers who become progressively immune to
masculinizing hormones as they bear male fetuses and such hormones may be
deactivated in later pregnancies of their sons.
Environmental Factor

The process of observational and consequences of the behavior

Multidimensional View of the Sexual Self