What is the Difference Between Sex and Gender?
Sociology, Theory, Cultural Understanding, Physical Anatomy
Sep 8, 2009
A common question posed by laymen and students of social sciences raises the distinction between the term “sex” and the term “gender”. Many people use the two words incorrectly, as interchangeable, when they signify two very different things.
Sex – Determined by Physical Anatomy, Biological Description
Sex is determined biologically and refers to an individuals physical anatomy – genitalia, facial hair, body structure and composition. Sex refers to the biological characteristics that separate male from female.
Sex is not culturally influenced in a direct way (although certain cultures believe in certain practices or influences impact the sex of a child during pregnancy) and is normally considered to be completely biological in nature, uninfluenced by cultures, norms, values, or mores.
Gender – Determined by Social, Cultural Affiliation, Learned Behaviours
Gender is determined by social interaction, exchange, and absorption of peer, familial, and larger cultural values that determine gender identity and affiliation.
Gender can be considered fluid in the sense that one can challenge their own gender identity, in some instances holding it completely opposed to their sex.
For example, a woman who considers herself to be a male, possessing the same sexual desires as a male, and is contemplating undergoing surgery in order to become male is an example of sex and gender being separate as well as disparate.
Gender roles and identities are also culturally proscribed; these roles are commonly a crucial argument in the feminist theory aspect of sociology or philosophy. Boys play with toy soldiers, while girls play with Barbie dolls – this commonly held viewpoint or assumption is offensive to many feminist theorists who advocate a stripping of stereotype and gender bias.
Why Is Acknowledging The Difference Between Sex and Gender Important?
It is important to understand the difference between sex and gender (accompanied by the realization that they are two separate entities) in order to better understand the impact that sex and gender – particularly socially ascribed gender roles – can have on developing children as well as adults.
Children who differ from commonly accepted gender roles – perhaps a young boy who enjoys playing with dolls or an EZ bake oven rather than toy guns and dump trucks – are also commonly punished by their peers, whether physically, verbally, or emotionally.
The same can be said of adults – women who wear plaid and like to talk about sports might be described as “butch,” whereas these qualities may be seen as desirable in individuals of the male sex.
Gender roles are social constructs and are subject to social change, whereas sex is a biological trait and, while it can be altered through advanced surgery, is generally considered to be static and dictated by forces of nature, rather than cultivated via nurture – as gender is.
Understanding and contemplating the difference and sometimes disparate nature of sex and gender can be enlightening as well as helpful in empathizing with individuals who may, in one way or another, break the social mold.
Other Articles Related to Social Justice, Sociology, and Philosophy
Doing some deep reading on pressing social issues? An article on Same Sex Marriage or perhaps Legalization of Cannabis / Marijuana might be just the ticket.
Also of interest is a recent article concerning the notion of self-image, as formed by Cooley's "Looking Glass Self" theory.
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