Sex and Gender

Sex: The Biological Dimension

Sex refers to thebiological and anatomical differences between females and males.

When we recognize someone's "sex" we are referringto characteristics of the individual that identify them with a particular sex…suchas secondary sexual characteristics that develop at adolescence.

Gender refers to theculturally and socially constructed differences between females and males.

Within a particular culture Gender refers to the roles and expectations that the society has in regard to men and women.

You are probably aware that the roles and expectations ofmen and women in our society are sometimes very distinct.  As much as times are changing, many ofus are still socialized to believe and live by certain expectations for men andwomen.

As we are socializedwe are taught very early that there is a difference between men and women. We begin to develop a genderidentity, which consists of our ownexpectations of ourselves because we are either a man or a woman.

Gender stereotypesare the generalizations we make about all men and women based on ourexpectations.

The key in this discussion is to realize that gender and sexare not the same concept. The sexof a person is determined by their genetic inheritance. The gender of a person is how well theyfit into the expectations and roles of their society.

In our society, we are beginning to examine different rolesand expectations for women and men which are challenging our sense of genderidentity.