Explain what natural experiments such as the cases of people with AIS, CAH, and ablatio penis have demonstrated about the origins of gender identity. Be sure to clarify which observations support each conclusion.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

All of these cases have provided evidence that gender identity is biologically determined rather than socially determined. People with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) show support for the idea that hormones rather than simply genitals or chromosomes determine a person's gender. For example, people with AIS have a male genotype but, due to insensitivity to androgen, have external genitalia and other physical characteristics that are feminine, to the point where many of these people have jobs as female models. In addition, these individuals show female-like cognitive abilities in that they have better verbal than spatial abilities and lower spatial performance compared to non-AIS males. A role of hormones in gender identity is also supported by the fact that CAH individuals have masculine characteristics such as enlarged clitoris, enhanced spatial ability, preference for trucks and blocks as toys, and interest in vehicles and rough sports. Cases of ablatio penis do not involve atypical hormone exposures, as these are cases in which an XY infant is either born without a penis or experiences damage to the genitals after birth. These cases also support biological influence on gender, as all but one of these males who were reared as male accepted that identity. In comparison, as many as 35% of XY individuals with some atypical external genitalia who were raised as girls either later transitioned to male identities or experienced gender dysphoria.