Social Explanation of Gender Identity Disorder

One social explanation of GID is the social learning theory (SLT), whereby children imitate role models on how to act in terms of gender. Several studies have been done, with some controversial conclusions.

11.1.3

Biological & Social Explanations of GID

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Biological Explanations of Gender Dysphoria

The causes of gender identity disorder have been researched. Findings suggest that it may be due to differing levels of sex hormones early in development. This theory has strengths and weaknesses.

Brain functioning

Brain functioning is slightly different between the sexes.
Those with gender identity disorder have brain functioning that is more typical of the sex that is not their biological sex.
In other words, the gender in which they identify.

Hormones in the womb

Sex hormones like oestrogen and testosterone have impacts on the development of foetuses in the womb.
Generally speaking, higher levels of testosterone cause male genitalia to develop.

Hormones and GID

If a person has unusual hormone levels during their development in the womb, they could develop brain function that is typical of that of their non-biological sex.
For example, a male could have high levels of oestrogen while developing.

Kruijver et al (2000)

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSCt) was studied in male-to-female (MTF) transgenders by Kruijver et al (2000).
They found that the number of neurones in male to female individuals was similar to the number found in women.
The number is roughly half as many as men.

Hare et al (2009)

Androgens are male sex hormones; the major example is testosterone.
Hare et al (2009) studied male-to-female transgender (male to female) and found they were more likely to have a particular gene that coded for an androgen receptor.
They compare male to female individuals to non-transgender males.

Support

Both these studies support biological explanations of gender identity disorder.
It is important to note that in both of these studies, the transsexual people were mostly living as their identified gender (non-biological sex) and some of them had changed their physical sex.

Weaknesses with the Biological Theory of Gender Identity Disorder

It has been suggested that GID may be due to differing levels of sex hormones early in development. But some people have found weaknesses with this proposition.

Cause and effect

Another set of researchers studied the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSCt).
Chung et al. (2002) stated that the differences in sexes of the BSCt did not appear until adulthood.
So the BSCt differences could be the result of gender development, not the cause.

Validity

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a syndrome whereby males or females produce significantly more testosterone than the norm.
You might expect girls with CAH to have gender identity disorder because they have higher amounts of testosterone.
But most girls with CAH do not develop GID.