Gender and Sex: What is the Difference Between?
One of the most hotly debated issues in modern times is issues concerning gender and sex. Most people would use these two terms interchangeably which sometimes causes confusion in the discussion of certain issues. This article aims to define and differentiate gender and sex.
What is Sex?
Sex is the distinction between males and females through their biological characteristics such as the difference in genitalia of males and females, the changes they experience during puberty, hormones, and physical appearance.
It is widely accepted that there are only two sexes: male and female, but we also have people called intersex.
Intersex refers to a person’s physical and sexual characteristics that cannot be categorized as male or female. This can be caused by some issues with their chromosomes, issues with a person’s hormones or the deformation of their genitals at their birth (e.g., hermaphroditism). According to studies, 1 in 100 people can be born intersex
What is Gender?
Gender is a person’s masculinity or femininity shaped by their personal perspective, culture, norms, traditions, beliefs, and other societal standards.
Gender is also used to define whether a person is female or male using the social and cultural differences between the two genders. A person’s gender identity and roles can be categorized as masculine or feminine. They are expected to follow the characteristics or activities set and recognized by society.
Though gender is commonly accepted as a binary, there are people who do not subscribe to only one gender role. One example of this is with people who consider themselves non-binary, where a non-binary does not follow the traditional male-female binary of society. An example is wearing clothes made for the opposite sex and acting like the other sex.
There are also bigender people, where a person exhibits both male and female gender roles. Agender, on the other hand, are people who do not consider themselves part of any gender.
Currently, gender issues are openly discussed unlike in the past when gender and sex are taboo subjects. In more progressive countries, it is given a lot of attention and they want to make adequate laws and rights for people who are part of different gender identities. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, it is still being debated by legislators, members of the church, and society due to the conservative views on gender that most Filipinos have.
In summary, sex is a biological trait that a person possesses since he or she was born, and it can only be changed if this person undergoes an operation to change their sex. Gender, on the other hand, is shaped by a person’s personal views and the culture and practices of the society they are a part of.
