Assignment:
Gender identity-identifying oneself as male or female-is a critical component of an individual's life-span development. Misconceptions and stereotypes abound with regard to gender, and you may bring personal misconceptions and stereotypes to your work with clients.
As you read the resources this week, what concepts seem especially relevant to you as a social worker? Are you able to identify any personal misunderstandings about the formation of gender identity? What strategies might you use to apply your new understanding to social work practice?
Discussion that includes the following:
• A new understanding you have gained in the resources about gender identity
• An explanation of how individuals' gender identity affects their development through young and middle adulthood
• A strategy you might use to apply your understanding of gender identity development to social work practice
Required Readings
Brewster, M. E., &Moradi, B. (2010).Personal, relational and community aspects of bisexual identity in emerging, early and middle adult cohorts.Journal of Bisexuality, 10(4), 404-428.
Burri, A., Cherkas, L., Spector, T., &Rahman, Q. (2011). Genetic and environmental influences on female sexual orientation, childhood gender typicality and adult gender identity. PloS ONE, 6(7), 1-8
Maylor, E. A., Reimers, S., Choi, J., Collaer, M. L., Peters, M., & Silverman, I. (2007). Gender and sexual orientationdifferences in cognition across adulthood: Age is kinder to women than to men regardless of sexualorientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(2), 235-249.
Nuttbrock, L. A., Bockting, W. O., Hwahng, S., Rosenblum, A., Mason, M., Macri, M., & Becker, J. (2009). Gender identity affirmation among male-to-female transgender persons: A life course analysis across types of relationships and cultural/lifestyle factors.Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 24(2), 108-125
Pleak, R. R. (2009). Formation of transgender Identities in adolescence.Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 13(4), 282-291.
Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., & Hunter, J. (2011).Different patterns of sexual identity development over time: Implications for the psychological adjustment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths.Journal of Sex Research, 48(1), 3-15.
Rose, S. M., &Zand, D. (2002).Lesbian dating and courtship from young adulthood to midlife.Journal of Lesbian Studies, 6(1), 85-109.