Main Difference – Sex vs Gender
Sex and Gender are two words that refer to the differences between males and females. Though these two terms are commonly used interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between sex and gender. The main difference between sex and gender is that sex refers to the biological and physiological differences between males and females whereas gender refers to the social differences between men and women.
What is Sex
Sex refers to the biological differences between males and females. Sex is based on the reproductive function, since biological, physiological differences between males and females exist due to the process of reproduction.
These differences include hormones, chromosomes and internal and external sexual organs. For example, women’s capability of giving birth to offspring is a difference in sex, not gender. The deeper voice inherent in men is also a difference based on sex.
Since sex is a biological factor, the characteristics that distinguish sex remains the same in any culture. It is sex that creates the distinction between male and female. Sex also determines the gender of a person. However, in some cases, an individual’s gender and sex may not align; this happens to people of transgender.
What is Gender
Gender refers to the social and cultural differences between men and women. This takes into account features like gender roles, behaviour, expectations and attributes that are considered appropriate by the society. Gender can be mainly divided as masculine and feminine. This deals with the social role assigned to men and women. For example, women are expected to be more nurturing and gentler than men. This is not a difference based on physical differences, but a difference dictated by the society. There are also some physical differences that do not actually fall into the category of biological differences. For instance, the belief that women have longer hair and men have short hair is not actually based on sex, but gender, since the length of the hair, is not actually determined by biological factors, but social norms and customs.
Unlike sex, gender is not created biologically, but socially. Therefore, gender differences can vary from one culture to another. What is considered to be feminine or masculine characteristics in one culture or time period may differ in different culture and time periods.
Difference Between Sex and Gender
Definition
Sex refers to the biological and physiological differences between men and women.
Gender refers to the social and cultural differences between men and women.
Differences
Sex is based on biological differences.
Gender is based on social and cultural differences.
Categories
Sex has two main two categories: male and female.
Gender has two main categories: masculine and feminine.
Different cultures and times
Sex remains the same regardless of time and culture
Gender roles, expectations may differ across time and culture.
Creation
Sex is created by the reproduction needs, that is, biological features.
Gender distinctions are created by social norms.
Image Courtesy:
“Combotrans” by Original: User:pschemp – Image:Combotrans.png, redrawn by myself. (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons
“Bathroom-gender-sign” by Creator:Tombe – (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons
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