Sex vs Gender

Sex vs. Gender

Sex is biologically determined. When we are talking about sex, we're talking about where a person falls on the female-male spectrum. This is referring to their physiology: chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy, for instance.

Gender, on the other hand, is socially constructed. It refers to the feminine and masculine spectrum, and it is a result of cultural programming. This means that gender isn't something that is natural, but rather something that we perform.

This idea that gender identity is created through cultural practices can be seen when we consider how gender behave differently in different cultures, and how they have behaved differently in different eras. Consider these examples.

“One is not born a woman; one becomes one.”

- Simone de Beauvoir

Gender Socialization

Gender socialization refers to the practices that condition a person to embody and fulfill the expectations of a particular gender. One of the most obvious examples of this can be found in children's toys. Girls are usually gifted toys that draw attention to feminine appearances, such as long-haired dolls that come with miniature hairbrushes; and boys are often given toys that encourage aggressive play, such as toy guns or action figures..

Discussing Gender

Gender Performance - This is the way in which people construct their gender through their behaviour. This could include their dress, speech, gestures, hobbies, diets, or career choices, to name a few. Consider the way that this term is used in the following sentences:

In the text, in what ways do different sexes perform similarly, and in what ways do they perform differently?

Gender Roles - These are the ways in which people society expects people to behave according to their gender. For example, traditional gender roles expect men to be rational, strong, protective, decisive, and unemotional; however, women are expected to be nurturing, submissive, and affectionate. Consider the ways that the term is used in the following sentences: