Question

Define sex and gender. Make sure to distinguish between gender role and gender identity. In your answer address the following questions: How and when are each (sex vs. gender) determined? Why is the use of a binary (male/female) for both sex and gender a problem?

Answer 1

  

Historically, the terms “sex” and “gender” have been used interchangeably, but their uses are becoming increasingly distinct, and it is important to understand the differences between the two.

In general terms, “sex” refers to the biological differences between males and females, such as the genitalia and genetic differences.

“Gender” is more difficult to define, but it can refer to the role of a male or female in society, known as a gender role, or an individual’s concept of themselves, or gender identity.

Sometimes, a person’s genetically assigned sex does not line up with their gender identity. These individuals might refer to themselves as transgender, non-binary, or gender-nonconforming.

The differences between male and female sexes are anatomical and physiological. “Sex” tends to relate to biological differences.  Genetic factors define the sex of an individual. Women have 46 chromosomes including two Xs and men have 46 including an X and a Y. The Y chromosome is dominant and carries the signal for the embryo to begin growing testes.   

“Sex” generally refers to biological differences.

The differences between male and female sexes are anatomical and physiological. “Sex” tends to relate to biological differences.

For instance, male and female genitalia, both internal and external are different. Similarly, the levels and types of hormones present in male and female bodies are different.

Genetic factors define the sex of an individual. Women have 46 chromosomes including two Xs and men have 46 including an X and a Y. The Y chromosome is dominant and carries the signal for the embryo to begin growing testes.

The male/female split is often seen as binary, but this is not entirely true. For instance, some men are born with two or three X chromosomes, just as some women are born with a Y chromosome.

In some cases, a child is born with a mix between female and male genitalia. They are sometimes termed intersex, and the parents may decide which gender to assign to the child. Intersex individuals account for around 1 in 1,500 births.

Some people believe that sex should be considered a continuum rather than two mutually exclusive categories.

***Gender.....

Gender roles vary greatly between societies.

Gender tends to denote the social and cultural role of each sex within a given society. Rather than being purely assigned by genetics, as sex differences generally are, people often develop their gender roles in response to their environment, including family interactions, the media, peers, and education.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines gender as:

“Gender refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles, and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed.”. *** Gender roles...

Gender roles in some societies are more rigid than those in others.

The degree of decision-making and financial responsibility expected of each gender and the time that women or men are expected to spend on homemaking and rearing children varies between cultures. Within the wider culture, families too have their norms.

Gender roles are not set in stone.

In many societies, men are increasingly taking on roles traditionally seen as belonging to women, and women are playing the parts previously assigned mostly to men.

Gender roles and gender stereotypes are highly fluid and can shift substantially over time. .

****Identity and expression.....

Another meaning of gender is an individual’s view of themselves, or their gender identity.

“One’s internal, personal sense of being a man or woman. For transgender people, their own internal gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.

Most people have a gender identity of man or woman (or boy or girl). For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of those two choices.”

“External manifestations of gender, expressed through one’s name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics. Society identifies these cues as masculine and feminine, although what is considered masculine and feminine changes over time and varies by culture.”

To conclude, in general terms, “sex” refers to biological characteristics and “gender” refers to the individual’s and society’s perceptions of sexuality and the malleable concepts of masculinity and femininity. ********* Social problems.....********

• more educated than men. ...
• Sexual harassment. An obstacle that many women face in the workforce is sexual harassment. ...
• Racism. ...
• Women are promoted less often than men. ...
• Fear of asking to be paid what you're worth.
• Women still make only about 80% of what men earn for full time work.
  
• Women are less likely to hold managerial or supervisory positions, and when they do, their positions carry less authority.
  
• “Housewives” are perceived as in the lower half of all groups in social status, below “blue collar workers.”
  
• Even when both partners earn wages, women do twice as much housework and child care.
  ********Sex determination********
• humans, biological sex is determined by five factors present at birth: the presence or absence of a Y chromosome, the type of gonads, the sex hormones, the internal genitalia (such as the uterus in females), and the external genitalia. ... Phenotypic sex refers to the structures of the external and internal genitalia. ********Gender determination****** .   child's gender (male or female) is determined by the chromosome that the male parent contributes. Females have XX sex chromosomes. Males have XY sex chromosomes. A male infant results if the male contributes his Y chromosome while a female infant results if he contributes his X chromosome.