Arlene Istar Lev C.S.W.-R., C.A.S.A.C. Choices Counseling and Consulting 321 Washington Avenue Albany, New York 12206 518-463-9152 <
[email protected]> http://www.choicesconsulting.com Sexual and Gender Identity Sexual identity is an overall term that describes a biopsychosocial integration of biological sex, gender identity, gender role expression and sexual orientation (Coleman, 1987; Money & Tucker, 1975; Shively & De Cecco, 1993), although it is sometimes used as a narrower definition to only refer to sexual orientation or preference. The first component of human identity is biological sex. Everyone is assigned a biological sex at birth based on an examination of the visible genitalia. The presence or absence of the phallus is the first, the most salient and often the only variable that determines whether one is a boy or a girl. Biological sex is actually a complex relationship of genetic, hormonal, morphological, chromosomal, gonadal, biochemical, and anatomical determinates that impact the physiology of the body and the sexual differentiation of the brain (Money, 1995; Wilson & Reiner, 1999). The biological differences between males and females develop at about 6 weeks into gestation, and before this stage male and female (XY and XX) appear the same, although genetic or chromosomal sexual differences are established at conception. The primitive duct systems are identical until the presence of male hormones triggers the development of male gonads, the differentiation of the duct systems, and the formation of external genitalia. Without the presence of male hormones, the fetus develops female gonads, which has led scientists to label the female development process a “default” system.