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PubMed1996

Acoustic characteristics of less-masculine-sounding male speech.

This study compared samples of less-masculine-sounding (LMS) and more-masculine-sounding (MMS) male speech to identify acoustic characteristics, other than fundamental frequency, that might contribute to the perception of these categories. In the first phase, audiorecorded speech samples provided by 35 males were presented to 35 female listeners in a paired-comparison perceptual experiment. Nineteen of the male speech samples were judged reliably to fall within the LMS or MMS categories. Within those 19 samples, 8 speakers (4 LMS and 4 MMS) exhibited similar distributions of habitual fundamental frequency values in connected speech and in sustained phonation. In the second phase of the experiment, various acoustic measures of these eight connected speech samples were conducted. Significant differences between measures of fundamental frequency contours, vowel formant midpoint values, and in the first, third and fourth spectral moments of two fricatives were revealed. These findings may be useful in creating stylized synthetic speech that varies on the dimension of masculinity, and they may have clinical relevance for patients wishing to modify the perception of masculinity invoked by their speech.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Normal differentiation of masculine sexual behavior in male ferrets despite neonatal inhibition of brain aromatase or 5-alpha-reductase activity.

Male ferrets born in the laboratory received subcutaneous Silastic capsules containing either the aromatase inhibitor, androst-1,4,6-triene-3, 17-dione (ATD), the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, testosterone-17 beta-carboxylic acid (17 beta C), or no hormone, for 15 days beginning on the day of birth; an additional group of females received empty Silastic capsules. All ferrets were gonadectomized when 11 weeks of age and were subsequently tested for masculine sexual behavior after a latin-square sequence of treatments with subcutaneous Silastic capsules containing testosterone (T), estradiol (E), or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). After T, control males displayed significantly more neck gripping, mounting and pelvic thrusting than control females, and males treated neonatally with ATD or 17 beta C were no less responsive than control males. After DHT, little masculine sexual behavior was shown by any group. After E, the duration of mounting was significantly longer in control and ATD males than in control females or 17 beta C males. Subsequently, however, there were no differences between control and 17 beta C males on any parameter of masculine sexual performance, when they were retested sequentially after subcutaneous implantation of E followed by E + DHT. Additional groups of newborn male and female ferrets received subcutaneous capsules containing either ATD, 17 beta C, or no hormone and were killed on postnatal day 7. Administration of ATD, but not 17 beta C, strongly inhibited aromatase activity in the hypothalamus + preoptic area. In all groups, the formation of significantly inhibited cortical 5 alpha-reductase activity. Plasma concentrations of T were equivalent on postnatal day 7 in males given each of the neonatal treatments. These results suggest that behavioral masculinization in the male ferret results primarily from the neonatal action in brain of T itself, and not from its estrogenic or 5 alpha-reduced androgenic metabolites.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗

PubMed1995

Prenatal testosterone differentially masculinizes tonic and surge modes of luteinizing hormone secretion in the developing sheep.

In sheep, prenatal exposure to androgens during a critical period for sexual differentiation can masculinize tonic luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and defeminize the LH surge. The present study investigated the possible independent control of these two modes of LH secretion, as revealed by their developmental history. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that separate critical periods exist for androgenization of tonic and surge LH secretion. Pregnant ewes were treated weekly with testosterone cypionate (200 mg in oil). As a control and to induce robust masculinization of reproductive neuroendocrine function, one group of females received testosterone from day 30 to 86 of gestation (LONG group). To determine if masculinization of tonic LH secretion develops separately from that of the LH surge, two additional groups were treated from day 30 to 51 (EARLY group) or 65-86 (LATE group). At birth, the external genitalia of the LONG- and EARLY-treated females were masculinized; those of the LATE-treated group were normal. At 2 weeks of age, all androgenized females, together with normal males and females (n = 8 each), were gonadectomized and steroids replaced using an estradiol-filled Silastic capsule. First, to determine the timing of the pubertal decrease in steroid sensitivity, circulating LH was monitored twice weekly. Second, to test the function of the LH surge system, LH was measured every 1-2 h for 60 h after an acute increase in estradiol at 9 months of age. With regard to tonic LH secretion, in control males and LONG-treated females, a sustained increase in tonic LH in the presence of constant steroid feedback occurred at 7.1 +/- 0.3 and 10.9 +/- 1.7 weeks of age, respectively (mean +/- SE). In control females, tonic LH increased at 27.1 +/- 0.8 weeks. Despite the differences in their genitalia, EARLY and LATE testosterone treatment produced intermediate effects: LH secretion increased at 19.3 +/- 1.2 and 20.4 +/- 0.8 weeks, respectively. In response to acute estradiol stimulation, all control females produced a surge of LH that peaked 18.4 +/- 0.6 h after steroid treatment. For the control males and LONG-treated females, LH concentrations were not sustained above unsuppressed pretreatment levels throughout the 60-hour sampling period. All but 4 of the 18 EARLY- and LATE-treated females responded to estradiol stimulation with a surge of LH that peaked at 29.8 +/- 1.6 and 31.8 +/- 1.3 h, significantly later than that of control females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

"You can't fight windmills": how older men do health, ill health, and masculinities.

Many health researchers have reported higher mortality and morbidity rates for men than for women. Various writers have argued that such differences reflect men's delay in seeking help when required and that reluctance to seek help reflects prevailing constructions of hegemonic masculinity. The authors report findings from an interview study of 12 older men's understandings of health and ill health. In describing health, participants constructed identities consistent with prevailing notions of hegemonic masculinity. When discussing ill health, they aligned themselves with less powerful identities that were inconsistent with the "ideal" hegemonic masculinity. Participants used a "time will tell" discursive formulation to negotiate transitions between hegemonic and subordinate identities. Delay in seeking help, accordingly, can be viewed as reflecting transitions in identity rather than hegemonic masculinity itself. These constructions are consistent with those found in other contexts and act to disadvantage men both in health terms and in identity terms.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Mister in-between: a case study of masculine identity and health-related behaviour.

The study of young men's health-related behaviour offers an opportunity to examine the links between masculine identity and social behaviour. This article presents a case study of a 19-year-old man living in London, who describes himself as different to his peers on several important dimensions, including his engagement in health-related behaviours. The case study demonstrates the importance of health-related social behaviours such as drinking, drug use, physical activity, sport and sexual behaviour in the construction of a masculine identity. This case study also reveals that the way in which men position themselves in relation to different discourses of masculinity can have important implications not only for their masculine identities, but also for their health-related behaviour.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Masculinity-femininity in creative college women.

The possible relationship between masculinity and creativity in college women was investigated through a battery of masculinity-femininity scales that tapped both manifest and latent masculinity, factorially derived clusters, and an ipsative measure. Two samples (n = 45 each) of women who had scored above the 75th percentile and below the 25th percentile respectively on two measures of creativity were used. High creative subjects scored higher on activity and described themselves as more masculine; indications are that they possess a broader, less stereotyped sex-role identity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Masculinity and femininity as factors in feminism.

The relationship between feminism and sex roles was explored in two studies. In female college students, sex-role types were measured by Baucom's (1976) MSC and FMN scales and by Bem's Sex-Role Inventory (Bem, 1974). Feminism was measured by the Attitude Toward Women Scale (AWS, Short Form) (Spence & Helmreich, 1972) and the Women's Liberation Scale (WLS) (Goldberg, 1976). Two groups of women were predicted to be more profeminist than others. (a) those scoring high on both masculinity and femininity and (b) those scoring high on masculinity and low on femininity. Results of the study supported both hypotheses using the AWS but not the WLS. In the second study, MSC and FMN served as the basis for forming sex-role types, and feminism was measured by participation in NOW. Again, a large number of women high on masculinity and low on femininity were feminists: however, women high on both masculinity and femininity were underrepresented in NOW. Different results in the two studies are discussed in terms of the different ways that feminism was measured.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1988

Masculine gender-role stress: predictor of anger, anxiety, and health-risk behaviors.

We suggest that male gender-role identification affects whether specific situations are appraised as stressful. A questionnaire was developed to measure masculine gender-role stress (MGRS). Correlational data and multiple regression were used to validate the MGRS scale as a measure of gender-related stress in men, and compare its predictive utility with Spence's commonly-used measure of masculinity. Findings indicate that stress appraisal is gender related, that is, men experience more masculine-role stress than women. Further, the construct of MGRS was distinguished from the concept of masculinity. Finally, MGRS predicted increased anger, increased anxiety, and poorer health behaviors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Effect of neonatal gonadectomy and administration of testosterone on coital masculinization in the ferret.

Male ferrets castrated on postnatal day 5 displayed significantly lower levels of neck gripping, mounting, and pelvic thrusting behavior than groups of males castrated on postnatal days 20 or 35 when tested in adulthood after treatment with testosterone (T). Administering a high dosage of T via sc Silastic capsules to ovariectomized female ferrets over postnatal days 5-20 caused a significant enhancement of all three parameters of masculine coital behavior and ossification of clitorides, in comparison with control females that received no exogenous hormone neonatally. A lower dosage of T given to other ovariectomized females over the same neonatal period caused only slight coital masculinization even though the plasma concentrations of T achieved in females with this particular implant were somewhat higher than the levels normally present in gonadally intact male ferrets at any time between postnatal days 5 and 40. Administration of high and low dosages of T to ovariectomized females over days 20-35 failed to cause any coital or genital masculinization. The results suggest that T acts in the male ferret brain between postnatal days 5 and 20 to cause coital masculinization. The sensitivity of the male brain to T during this period may, however, normally be enhanced by the action of T or some other hormone before day 5.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Masculinizing effect of testes on developing rat ovaries in organ culture.

Masculinizing effect of testes on developing rat ovaries was shown in vitro by culturing testes from 17.5-day-old fetuses in contact with female genital tracts from 14.5-day-old rat fetuses. The testes induced the differentiation of epithelial cells staining for cytokeratin in the ovarian blastema. These cells formed seminiferous cord-like structures delineated by a basement membrane, in a way that resembles early stages of testicular organogenesis. In addition to the morphological masculinization, functional masculinization was obtained since the ovaries produced the anti-Müllerian hormone as shown by bioassay and immunohistochemical procedures. Across a distance, testes from 17.5-day-old fetuses failed to induce masculinization. These results suggest that testes from 17.5-day-old fetuses produce a locally diffusible factor interfering with the development and the differentiation of the fetal ovaries. The possibility that the anti-Müllerian hormone secreted by the testes may be the factor involved is discussed comparing these results with those obtained with testes from different stages and with bibliographic data.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Perception of an adversary as a function of masculinity, sex, and aggression/empathy.

The study was designed to test whether men and women identifying with a masculine stereotype differ in their perception of a confederate (adversary) who displays either an empathetic or aggressive role in resolving a disagreement over social issues. It was hypothesized that masculine individuals would be more perceptually sensitive to aggressive cues of an adversary and make more hostile responses than nonmasculine individuals. Conversely, nonmasculine individuals were hypothesized to be more perceptually sensitive to empathetic cues of an adversary and make fewer hostile responses than masculine individuals. Results of both perceptual measures and the measure of hostility did not support the hypotheses. Nonmasculine individuals perceived the adversary more positively than masculine individuals regardless of strategy of resolution.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Comparison of French and Japanese individuals with reference to Hofstede's concepts of Individualism and Masculinity.

The purpose was to examine whether Japanese individuals were oriented toward collective and masculine values attributed to cultures by Hofstede by comparing them with those of French individuals. There were 110 French participants (54 men, 56 women) and 128 Japanese participants (41 men, 87 women), selected from undergraduate students, employed workers, housewives, and retirees. Their occupational proportion and their ranges of age were balanced in both countries. Scales for Individualism and Masculinity dealt not only with work-related but also general items for workplace, culture, education, and family. Analyses generally showed that the Japanese individuals scored higher on the Masculinity scale and French participants scored higher on the Individualism scale. There was a mean difference between Japanese men and women in how they answered questions about the work-related items concerning Masculinity.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Masculinizing granulosa cell tumor of the ovary in a postmenopausal woman. A case report.

BACKGROUND: A total of 32 cases of virilizing granulosa cell tumors of the ovary have been reported. The current case has some unique features not previously reported. CASE: A 78-year-old woman presented with symptoms and signs of masculinization. A large, painless abdominal mass was discovered. Exploration revealed the mass to be originating in the left ovary, and surgical resection resulted in prompt reversal of the clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenic manifestations. Morphologic studies demonstrated a homogeneous granulosa cell tumor. CONCLUSION: This is the oldest patient on record with a masculinizing granulosa cell tumor and also the only masculinizing tumor presenting with advanced, stage III disease. Such tumors, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in postmenopausal women presenting with masculinizing symptoms.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Effect on growth and reproduction of hormone immersed and masculinized fighting fish Betta splendens.

To produce all-male progenies in the fighting fish, Betta splendens, six groups of fry were subjected to discrete immersion treatment at different 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) doses (viz. 100, 200, 500, 700, 900, and 1,000 microg/l) for a constant duration (3 hr/day) and frequency (second, fifth, and eighth day after hatching). The treatment at 900 microg/l led to 98% masculinization and 71% survival at sexual maturity. Treated groups, which showed significant deviation from the 1:1 sex ratio, were classified into two different series: S1 and S2. The groups that showed nearly cent-percent masculinization were classified as S1, and the other groups were classified as S2. The S1 males showed remarkably slower growth and attained 3.5 cm total length compared to 6.0 cm attained by a normal male. The S2 males attained 5.4 cm total length. Apart from these morphological defects, both S1 and S2 males suffered functional (decreased sperm count and sperm motility) and behavioral defects (incomplete embracing during mating) in their reproductive ability, leading to approximately 50% and 30% reduction in fecundity per mating, respectively. The cumulative fecundity loss suffered by the S1 male during its active reproductive phase is discussed. When normal and sex-reversed males were presented, a female preferred the former. Progeny testing of the sex-reversed males showed the occurrence of 12.75% males, indicating the possible role of autosomal genes in the sex determination mechanism of this species. Discrete immersion treatment at optimal/super-optimal doses ensured not only a higher percentage of masculinization, but also a higher frequency of homogametic males (XX).

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Dynamics and histological characteristics of gonadal sex differentiation in pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) at feminizing and masculinizing temperatures.

This study evaluated the effects of different temperatures on the histological process of sex differentiation in the pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis, a fish with marked temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), at feminizing, neutral, and masculinizing temperatures. Fish reared at three temperatures (17 degrees C, 24 degrees C, and 29 degrees C) from hatching were sampled weekly until 11 weeks and their gonads were examined by histology. The percentages of females at 17 degrees C, 24 degrees C, and 29 degrees C were 100%, 73%, and 0%, respectively. Sex differentiation occurred earlier and at a smaller body size at higher temperatures in both sexes. The first signs of ovarian differentiation were observed at 4 and 7 weeks at 24 degrees C and 17 degrees C, respectively, and those of testicular differentiation at 4 and 7 weeks at 29 degrees C and 24 degrees C, respectively. Body or gonadal growth rates before sex differentiation were not proportional to temperature and showed no sexual dimorphism at 24 degrees C, where both sexes were present. Thus, differential growth rate is probably not a factor in TSD or histological sex differentiation in pejerrey. Blood vessels were formed before sex differentiation in both sexes and at all temperatures, and may be important for sex differentiation. No signs of intersexuality were found in any of the groups, and this characterizes pejerrey as the differentiated type of gonochorist even at feminizing and masculinizing temperatures. Ovaries were formed by the same histological processes at feminizing (17 degrees C) and neutral (24 degrees C) temperatures and without any pathological features such as germ cell degeneration. The process of testicular formation was generally similar at 24 degrees C and 29 degrees C, but some fish at 29 degrees C had widespread germ cell degeneration before sex differentiation. This suggests that pathological processes leading to germ cell death, such as heat-induced dysfunction of the supporting somatic cells, could be involved in masculinization of the genetic females at high temperatures.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1994

Local intracerebral implants of estrogen masculinize some aspects of the zebra finch song system.

The song system of zebra finches is sexually dimorphic: the volumes of the song control nuclei and the neurons within these nuclei are larger in males. The song system of hatchling female zebra finches is masculinized by systemic treatment with estrogen. We investigated the locus of this estrogen action by using microimplants of estradiol benzoate (EB). We implanted female zebra finch nestlings 10-13 days old with Silastic pellets containing approximately 2 micrograms EB at one of several sites: near the higher vocal center (HVC), in the brain distant from HVC, or in the periphery either under the skin of the breast or in the peritoneal cavity. Controls were either unimplanted or implanted near HVC with Silastic pellets without hormone. The brains were fixed by perfusion at 60 days, and the volumes of the song control regions as well as the sizes of individual neurons were measured. Neurons in HVC were larger (more masculine) in the HVC-implanted group than in the other groups, which did not differ among themselves. The size of neurons in the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) and the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the neostriatum (lMAN) were inversely correlated with the distance of the EB pellet to HVC; neurons in RA and lMAN were larger when the EB pellets were closer to HVC. This result suggests that implants near HVC were at or near a site of estrogen action. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that localized brain implants of estrogen cause morphological masculinization in any species.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Testicular masculinization of vocal behavior in juvenile female Xenopus laevis reveals sensitive periods for song duration, rate, and frequency spectra.

In Xenopus laevis, adult males but not females produce courtship songs comprised of rapid trills. Two experiments were conducted to determine whether male-typical singing could be induced in females. At 6 different juvenile stages, male and female frogs were gonadectomized and implanted with testes, grown to sexual maturity, and tested for vocal behavior. All frogs with functional testicular implants sang; females sang as much as males. The frequency spectra of the clicks within trills were fully masculinized in females implanted at PM0, PM1, and PM2. There were deficiencies in song quality in females implanted late in juvenile life. Females receiving testis implants at PM3, PM4, and PM5 did not produce clicks with masculine spectral qualities. In a concurrent experiment, adult males and females were gonadectomized and implanted with testes or silicone tubes containing testosterone propionate. When tested for vocal behavior 10 to 15 months after implantation, 8/10 androgen-treated males, 3/12 androgen-treated females, 5/5 testes-implanted males, and 2/4 testes-implanted females sang. The females that did sing spent much less time singing than males. The click rates of females were uniformly slower than males and no female produced clicks with a masculine frequency spectrum. Thus, testicular secretions can induce male-typical singing in females until late in juvenile development. However, females exhibit a progressive decline in vocal potential with increasing age, culminating in an almost complete loss of singing ability by adulthood.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1991

Role of presynaptic serotonergic receptors on the mechanism of action of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonists on masculine sexual behaviour: physiological and pharmacological implications.

In order to establish whether the 5-HT1A or the 5HT1B agonists, 8-OH-DPAT or TFMPP, produce their facilitatory or inhibitory actions on masculine sexual behaviour via a mechanism involving: (a) the serotonin synthesis or release; (b) the stimulation of presynaptic receptors, or (c) the stimulation of somatodendritic receptors, three series of experiments were performed. The administration of the serotonin synthesis inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA, 300 mg/kg x 3 days), facilitated sexual behaviour but does not interfere neither with the inhibitory nor with the facilitatory effects of TFMPP (0.5 mg/kg) or 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg), respectively. The icv or the intraraphé administration of the serotonergic neurotoxin, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT), slightly stimulated masculine sexual behaviour and produced a decrease in serotonin and its metabolite levels. In lesioned animals TFMPP (0.5 mg/kg) resulted in an inhibitory effect reflected as a prolongation of the ejaculation latency. The inhibitory effect of this drug on mounting behaviour was not observed in 5,7-DHT treated rats. In lesioned animals 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg) produced the same facilitatory effect. Present data indicate that serotonergic postsynaptic receptors mediate both the inhibitory and the facilitatory actions of TFMPP or 8-OH-DPAT in copulation. All data further support the idea that endogenous serotonin acts via the stimulation of 5-HT1B receptors to induce its inhibitory effects on masculine sexual behaviour.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗