Danielle Murray

10/7/15
UWRT 1103
Ms. Blandford

I took psychology my senior year of high school. Though many aspects of the subject
interested me, I was intrigued when we started discussing gender identity. I never knew that
some people that were one gender could identify as another. I didnt understand it when it came
to psychology so I decided to write my paper on it. Specifically, I have questions about gender
identity and child development. Some people grow up according to what sexual genitalia they
have. Though one might sexually be a boy, they might identify as a female and vice versa for
females. It has always interested me, how some people fill out questionnaires or surveys where
they ask what gender they are. They always have male and female. They never have undecided. I
honestly dont understand how people could be confused on what gender they identify as and I
would like to understand how they become they way they are.
The definition of gender identity is the external appearance of an individual. In other
words, its how an individual expresses themselves through physical appearance and behavior. I
decided to focus specifically on ages 5 - 18 because Ive always wondered how people make the
decision that they identify as a male or female. What factors play into gender identity? Whats
the turning point in adolescence? Im interested in how factors play a part in their development
into an adult. The questions I have referring to this are what are the parents influence? and How
does society approve/disapprove of gender identity? Ive also wondered if a child grows up
knowing their gender identity or does it develop over time. A child could be born and put in a
pink blanket and identify as a male and vice versa for females. Does the environment play a part
or are children born knowing what they identify as? How does gender identity relate to nature vs.
nurture? I would also like explore how society sees gender identity. I know that it has taken
America a while to become accepting of these individuals. Specifically, my questions are what

Danielle Murray
10/7/15
UWRT 1103
Ms. Blandford

are the parents influence? If one grows up with homosexual parents, whether two men or two
women, is on more likely to become gay what a child that doesnt?, How does this contrast with
the typical American family? (A husband, a wife and two children; a boy and a girl), and How
does ones outside influences play a part in deciding their gender identity?
I think I will find my answers in social media, blogs, articles and maybe some tv shows,
which will address my final question, how is one treated as the gender they identify as? People
that struggle with gender identity might be more prone to writing on a blog rather than talking
face to face with someone. I think that I could also look into psychology websites or articles.
Gender identity kind of goes hand in hand with homosexuality, even though people that might
identify as a different gender than they appear. I would like to see how psychology plays a part in
an individuals decision.
If my results come out being too broad, I would try to condense it to maybe focusing
strictly on one gender identifying as the other. For example, males that identify as females. If
anything, I think the results would be too vague and I would have to broaden my topic a little. If
the results are too few, Ill expand the my views from child development to development overall.
Ill look into how people develop as they are adults and start to question themselves as adults.
Overall, I hope have my questions answered with the research Ill be doing. If my questions
arent answered, all in all, I would be fine with that, as long as I have a better understanding of
my topic.