Question

The term gender and sex are frequently confused as they are used interchangeably in our society. In an effort to avoid using the word sex, we now ask people for their gender on surveys and questionnaires. The choices are Male and Female which is incorrect for gender identity. If you are asking me my gender you should use Masculine and Feminine. It is a common issue in our society. How can society be helped to change their understanding of the words?

Answer 1

• Most people have been told that "gender" is synonymous with "assigned sex," but this is not true. In fact, this incorrect usage of words has lead to sexual discrimination which comes up in homophobia, transphobia, and to control how people behave, based on their bodies.
• Sex- Its most basic meaning is our biology: male, female, intersex, etc. It is a term created for scientific purposes which is why we are asked to label ourselves on medical records.
• Gender- It was created as a way to identify how society wants someone of a certain sex to behave. For example, the concept that "pink is for girls/blue is for boys" is nothing more than a social construct we have been told to believe very strongly in.
• Pay attention to underlying meanings- Frequently used gender terms have become so common that we forget their actual meanings: "girl" means a prepubescent female, whereas "woman" means an adult female, yet society frequently refers to anyone fitting the description of a female to be a "girl" no matter the age.
• People need to question their own understandings of their gender-They need to ask themselves how their daily routine, and behavior would change if they were not given a gender or sex. If you are not transgender, ask yourself how you would feel if you were.
• Avoid gender and sexuality stereotypes.People need to study and update themselves about the meaning of sex and gender.Through various types of media,people can be made to understand the difference between sex and gender,to break the stereotypes.
• Children in school can be educated about the correct meanings by conducting seminars and discussions by teachers and medical professionals who can explain in detail.