Essay on Exploring the Link between Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation in Cisgender Individuals

Introduction

For this study, the article selected is, 'An Exploration of the Relations between Self-Reported Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in an Online Sample of Cisgender Individuals' by Jacobson and Joel (2018). The study in question explored the existing relations between self-reported aspects of gender identity and sexual orientation in a sample of 4756 cisgender English-speaking personnel (Jacobson & Joel, 2018). Notably, there exists a significant relationship between biological sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The connection signifies that biological sexes are a substrate for the development of one of the two gender identities and a sexual attraction towards persons of the opposite sex. The article is based on the previous research findings that one's actual or perceived gender identity has a role to play in influencing an individual's sexual orientation. The topic selected for this analysis aims at examining the relationship between self-reported gender identity and sexual orientation. Therefore, the chosen article by Jacobson and Joel (2018) will serve as a significant guide for the completion of these study requirements.

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The study selected identifies the different aspects of gender identity and how they relate to sexual orientation. The independent variable, which is the variable that changes during an experiment, is the aspects of gender identity. Considering that the sample is large, the participants are likely to have different perceptions and perspectives of gender identity. Consequently, the dependent variable, which is the metric being tested or measured during a scientific study, is a sexual orientation. The survey measures sexual orientation and its variations based on one's gender identity. With this in mind, the study has no control variable. Sexual orientation was a variable that changes across an individual's lifespan. In this study, sexual orientation was determined based on five categories that included exclusively heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, predominantly homosexual, and solely homosexual. In addition to that, the metrics that are used to measure gender identity include feelings of being a man or a woman. Gender identity, in this study, was estimated based on individual perceptions.

Source of the Data for Use in the Analysis

For this study, the data in the study of identifying the relationship between gender identity and sexual orientation will be gathered through interviews and questionnaires. Preferably, surveys with anonymous participants will be selected to allow the individuals willing to participate in the study to freely do so without worrying that they are likely to be identified. Therefore, the online selection of participants will be relied upon substantially. The researchers will recruit participants through social media sites and other relevant databases with the help of institutions for the LGBTQs and other like organisations. The willing participants will submit their emails and questionnaires issued to them. The first questionnaire will be the multi-gender identity questionnaire (Multi-GIQ) that will assess feelings of a man, woman, or both. Secondly, a sexual orientation questionnaire will be used that will help to evaluate the perceptions of attraction to men, women or both. The sample selected contained about 900 participants.

Notably, the data gathered in this study will be useful since researchers compared the gender identity of a participant to their sexual orientation. In effect, the study question on the correlation between gender identity and sexual orientation will be answered. The limitations include the fact that the participants may provide incorrect answers since it will be challenging to identify the truthfulness of their responses. The use of questionnaires with unknown people poses integrity issues in research papers since when compared to interviews; one cannot verify the responses using non-verbal cues and like techniques. However, in a bid to enhance accuracy, the answers provided by the participants will be analysed carefully to ensure that they make sense and to confirm that they are not contradicting.

Measurement of the Independent and Dependent Variables

In this research, independent variables, which is the gender identity, will be measured from the responses provided by the participants. Notably, the metrics such as feelings of a man or a woman will help to determine a respondent's gender identity. Therefore, the attributes assigned to the independent variable is the feelings of a man or feelings of a woman. Consequently, the dependent variable, which is a person's sexual orientation, will be measured using five values. They include exclusive heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, predominantly homosexual, and exclusively homosexual.

For this study, the measures of validity that will be used are construct and face validity. Construct validity, as Shetty et al. (2012) indicated, aids in evaluating the measurement tool that represents a particular metric. It aids in establishing the validity of a technique. Primarily, questionnaires were issued to measure gender identity and sexual orientation of the participants. The indicators and measurements in the two surveys, multi-GIQ and sexual orientation questionnaires measured the indicators and constructs that will aid in answering the study question. Face validity confirms how suitable a project is likely to be on the surface. Outwardly, the survey seems to be a good representation of the study topic. As such, one can claim that the project has a high face and construct validity.

Using the data gathered from the participants, one can create a cross-tabulation table. Importantly, cross-tabulation is a technique that aids in the quantitative analysis of the relationship existing between variables. The cross-tabulation table for the data gathered in the study is represented in figure 1 below.

Values Row Labels Sum of exclusively heterosexual Sum of mostly heterosexual Sum of bisexual Sum of mostly homosexual Sum of exclusively homosexual

men 300 50 40 10 50

women 200 58 42 50 100

Grand Total 500 108 82 60 150

Variable Hypothesis

In any research, a hypothesis gives the relationship existing between two variables. For this study, the hypotheses are as follows:

H1: Men and women who have feelings of men or women respectively are heterosexual.

H2: Men and women who are unsure of their gender identity are frequently not heterosexual but have various sexual orientation.

Data Analyses

From the above data, one can see that some respondents claimed to have varying sexual orientations regardless of whether they were male or female. A significant number of men and women who claimed to have strong feelings of being a man or a woman were exclusively heterosexual. Others, regardless of their strong feelings of been male or female, claimed to be sexually oriented to same-sex persons, bisexual, and others could not affirm to be exclusively heterosexual or homosexual. The frequency distribution table shows the distribution of the responses gathered from the participants and could help in analysing the overall findings collected in the study.

Data Interpretation

From the above findings, one can see that the relations between sexual orientation and perceptions of gender identity vary in men and women. The resulting curve from the bivariate analysis and frequency distribution tables given above show a U-shaped kind of results for both men and women. Notably, the number of men and women who claimed to be exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual was high when the participants claimed to feel like men or women. From these results, one can see that when one strongly felt as a woman or as a man, they were likely to be exclusively heterosexual or exclusively homosexual.

Importantly, the responses of men and women were highly variable and overlapped each other. The reactions were affirmed to gender and weakly related to sexual orientation. The relations of these variables and sexuality followed a particular pattern where the number of exclusively heterosexual and homosexual persons excluded the number of mostly heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual persons. From these findings, one can firmly conclude that there exists a substantial relationship between perceived gender and sexual orientation.

Sum mary and Conclusion

The findings gathered in the study correlate with that of the review by Jacobson and Joel (2018) where they two studies confirm that gender identity does not necessarily determine that one is attracted to the different gender. Attraction to the same gender could occur regardless of whether it identifies with the equal or opposite gender. Thus, sexual orientation is one's decision and is not necessarily determined by gender. Similarly, the study disputes community claims and misconceptions that being attracted to people of the same gender, which is against social norms, results due to gender dysphoria. The research has proven that those people attracted to the same sex or those who are bisexual are conscious of their gender. Hence, it helps in preventing further misconceptions in society. Therefore, this study is essential in sociology and helps in creating community enlightenment.

References

Jacobson, R., & Joel, D. (2018). An exploration of the relations between self-reported gender identity and sexual orientation in an online sample of cisgender individuals. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(8), 2407-2426. doi: 10.1007/s10508-018-1239-y

Shetty, S., Panait, L., Baranoski, J., Bell, R. L., Roberts, K. E., & Duffy, A. J. (2012). Construct and face validity of a novel virtual reality-based camera navigation curriculum. Journal of Surgical Research, 172(2), 336-337. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2011.11.614