Polish, Czech and Slovak Students on the Issue of Gender Determination

Abstract

Sexual development is determined by many factors acting during the prenatal period, such as exposure to androgens, sex chromosomes and brain structure; and sexual differentiation of the sex organs which occurs much earlier (i.e. in the first two months of prenatal development) than sexual differentiation of the brain (i.e. in the second half of prenatal development).A study aimed at identifying students’ knowledge regarding disorders of sex determination was conducted using the diagnostic survey method and questionnaire technique at three universities – in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. A total of 450 students participated in the study (172 from Poland, 99 from the Czech Republic, and 179 from Slovakia). The research sample was selected based on the assumption that there are differences in awareness of sexual development among Polish, Czech, and Slovak societies.The analysis of the results revealed that students’ knowledge of "sex determination" is insufficient, with Czech students being the most aware of disorders of sexual differentiation. The findings demonstrate an urgent need to address the education of students – especially those in pedagogical/teacher-training programs – in the biological and social aspects of human sex determination. To meet the challenges of social norms and conditions, it is necessary to recognize that knowledge in this area is essential in today’s world, and universities should provide education in social competencies related to shaping ethical attitudes toward the causes of atypical human development.