In: Psychology
What’s the difference between “gender identity” and “sexual orientation?"
Group of answer choices:
There is virtually no difference between the terms.
Gender identity relates to one’s physiology, while sexual orientation has to do with psychological dimensions of femininity and masculinity.
Gender identity relates to psychological dimensions of masculinity and femininity, while sexual orientation involves who is desired as a sexual partner.
Gender identity relates to psychological dimensions, while sexual orientation is another word for androgyny.
The difference between "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" is:
3. Gender identity relates to psychological dimensions of masculinity and feminity, while sexual orientation involves who is desired as a sexual partner.
Explanation: Gender is a social construct and hardly has anything to do with one's biology or physiology. Gender can be thought of as a concept that allows the society to decide and control feminine and masculine traits. Gender role is heavily depended on the societal and cultural structure that decides one's attitudes, activities, values, thinking pattern etc. The extent to which a person views him/herself as masculine or feminine influences their identity and social activities. It would be incorrect to assume that there are just two genders: man and woman. There are a lot of complexities and dimensions involved when deciphering one's gender.
Sexual orientation is what kind of a person one would want for a sexual alliance. Sexuality is the expression of one's sexual desires which is influenced by one's biological, psychological and social factors. For example, a woman may be attracted to a man (heterosexual) or to another woman (homosexual). Similarly, a man can be attracted to a woman or another man. Many people can be bisexual that is they may have attraction toward both male and female. Or they can be asexual that is they may not feel attracted to anyone. There are many other types of romantic/sexual attraction that are decided by one's sexual orientation.