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Psy 265 Gender Identity Paper

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Psy 265 Gender Identity Paper
Gender Identity

PSY/265

06/24/2012

University Of Phoenix

Usually when a person is said to be male or female, it is based on their sex assigned to them at birth, specific natal characteristics are used to define a person a boy or a girl. These biological features are not the only determining factor regarding gender identity. An individual’s psyche also has a significant role.

Most of the time gender identity is constructed upon the actual chromosomal sex of a person (Nevid, Rathus & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). The variance between assigned gender and gender identity lies inside the psychological dominion. While one may be considered male when born, psychologically he may not relate to being a male at all. Femininity may be something that is much more comfortable than masculinity. This is a situation where the assigned gender is male, but the person identifies themselves more as female.
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There are numerous influences that contribute to one’s gender identity. The way in which a person is raised, or nurture that one receives as a child can aid in the formation of gender identity. Parents typically vision their offspring as male or female, and as the boy or girl ages they tend to assume one or the other; masculine or feminine traits. Another possible important factor in the determination of gender identity is culture and the society in which one is a part of. Some may formulate their gender identity according to social norms and how they appear to

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