Question

Is there a difference between the sex and gender of a child? If so, what determines the sex and what determines the gender? If there is no difference, elaborate on what would be (could be) influential?

Answer 1

Sex and gender are not interchangeable terms. They both are very different from each other. Sex is determined biologically, whereas gender may not have a biological basis. Sex is the physiological basis of being a male or a female, such as the sex organs or secondary sexual characteristics. Gender is the social construct which is associated with ones sex. People who have a particular sex may not necessarily have a particular gender, and the people with different sexes may have different genders. Gender roles are the prescribed and appropriate behaviours which are performed by a particular gender. Gender roles may differe form society to society. Traditional societies have more rigid, defined and particular set gender roles, whereas more liberal societies rae more open to these roles. Gender identity is the personal identifiction of onesself as male or female, or both in some cases. It also influences our gender roles and hoe we percive ourself with regards to sexuality. Gender identity may be determined by various factors such as biological, social and cultural factors.