This lesson distinguishes sex from gender and explores how societies understand gender in different ways. These distinctions matter because treating sex and gender as interchangeable can lead to inaccurate assumptions about people.
Sex refers to physical or physiological characteristics, including reproductive anatomy and secondary characteristics such as breast development, height, and muscularity. Sex traits vary among people; not every person fits neatly into typical categories.
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Gender identity
A person's deeply held internal perception of their gender.
Gender expression
How a person presents or communicates gender through appearance, mannerisms, or other outward characteristics.
Cisgender
Describes a person whose gender identity corresponds with the gender associated with their sex assigned at birth.
Intersex
An umbrella term for variations in sex traits that differ from typical patterns of human sex development.
Heterosexism
An ideology and set of institutional practices that privilege heterosexuality and straight people.
Quiz questions
Why is it inaccurate to assume that clothing always indicates someone's gender?Answer: Clothing norms vary across cultures, and clothing does not determine gender identity.
What does the culturally specific identity fa’afafine illustrate?Answer: Some cultures recognize gender identities and expressions beyond a simple binary.
When a form requests a person's gender, why should staff avoid guessing from appearance?Answer: Appearance does not reliably establish gender identity; the person should be able to self-identify.
How does aromanticism differ from asexuality?Answer: Aromanticism concerns romantic attraction, while asexuality concerns sexual attraction.
What does heteronormativity describe?Answer: The assumption that heterosexuality is the default or expected orientation.
Based on Introduction to Sociology 3e by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.