PSYC FPX 2800 assessment 1

Foundations of Human Sexuality

There are numerous schools of thought when it comes to theories about gender identity. There are those that assert gender identity relies entirely on biology, and yet there are some who bring together our growing understanding of ourselves and our world into the theory. Gender identity overshoots every single theory since it is brought about by biology, society, environment, rites, and desired behavior. Comprehending therefore the construction of gender identity would therefore involve gaining knowledge and consolidating different theories for creating beneficial attitudes toward gender and self-definition.

One of the cognitive theories of early gender development was proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg in 1966. Kohlberg proposed a stage theory of gender development, proposing that a child’s gender understanding develops through stages, becoming increasingly complex (“Cognition and gender development,” 2016). The first stage, gender identity, is when a child identifies their own gender and can distinguish between the genders of others. Then, in stage two, at about the age of four, children understand gender stability, realizing that gender doesn’t change, but is mainly determined by external features like hair length or clothing style. Ultimately, at about age seven, children reach gender constancy, realizing that gender goes beyond outward appearance (“Cognition and gender development,” 2016).

On the contrary, the biological theory of gender identity suggests that gender is hormone- and chromosome-determined, precluding a difference between sex and gender inasmuch as gender conduct is created by biological sex (McLeod, 2016). In contrast to cognitive theory, with its focus on understanding’s contribution to the creation of gender attitudes, the biological theory claims that perceptions of sex are determined by chromosomes and hormonal levels.

PSYC FPX 2800 Assessment 1 Foundations of Human Sexuality

My daughter Mariah’s gender development aligns closely with Kohlberg’s cognitive theory of early gender development. At the age of two, Mariah recognized her own gender and understood her parents’ genders. By age four, she comprehended the permanence of her gender based on her anatomy and identified genders based on external attributes. By age eight, Mariah recognized that appearance does not dictate gender and understood the freedom of personal choice in gender expression.

Alternatively, Mariah’s gender identity formation would be explained through the biological perspective. Mariah showed sensitivity, nurturance, and mothering tendencies at an early age, exhibiting a preference for caregiver play activities that were stereotypically feminine. This is consistent with the evolutionary biological perspective that sex roles are inherited instincts transmitted generationally (McLeod, 2016).

In summary, cognitive and biological gender identity theories are both valid theories of gender identity formation. Gender identity formation should be understood as a result of self-awareness, societal effects, and evolutionary drives.