Sex versus Gender

What’s the difference and why does it matter? Being female is both a sex and a gender. The two words are often used interchangeably, but they actually mean different things.

Sex refers specifically to the biological differences between men and women…the physical characteristics of our bodies.

On the other hand, gender refers to the social construction of what it means to be a woman or a girl. In other words, its what society says about what it means to be a woman.

Sometimes its obvious which category things fit into – breasts are obviously related to our sex, whereas the idea that “women should be in the kitchen” is obviously a gendered social construction. But some are less clear, and the debate rages. Weakness is a great example. Is weakness a socially constructed idea of women, or is it an actual physical reality of our sex?

To sum up, here’s a great (but maybe overly simplistic) quote: “Sex is between your legs; gender is between your ears.”

If you want to read more about the distinction, and the debate, there are some links here and here.

(photo credit: Robert Scoble)

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3 responses to “Sex versus Gender”

Livvy
May 19th, 2010 at 21:33

Wow.. that opened my eyes.

dghfdfhjfhlfhlfla
May 21st, 2010 at 01:07

“whereas the idea that “women should be in the kitchen” is obviously a gendered social construction.”

…and a heavily anachronistic one at that…

” But some are less clear, and the debate rages. Weakness is a great example. Is weakness a socially constructed idea of women, or is it an actual physical reality of our sex?”

the idea that women are weak is a socially deconstucted view of women.

what year is it? these questions and this topic were relevant in the 1960s, but they are only important today in the context of a history lesson.

katej
May 25th, 2010 at 15:34

Hi dghfdfhjfhlfhlfla,

You’re right…these questions were relevant back in the day, but they’re also relevant today. I have been told on this blog that I should “go back to the kitchen,” which suggests to me that that sentiment is not entirely an anachronism like we would hope. For me, that’s one reason to keep conversations like this going, even if they’ve been had a hundred times before.

Part of the goal of this blog is to give young women the tools they need to stand up for women’s and girl’s rights globally, and sometimes that means going back to the basics. Just knowing the difference between these two terms can open new doors of understanding as a woman in modern society.

No matter what year it is, these terms need to be discussed for the next generation of women – they are always relevant and should not be relegated to the history books.

Kate J

2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks

What are the 5 Worst Stereotypes About Girls? « Because I am a Girl Blog August 26th, 2011 at 09:03

[...] you know that more boys tend to be enrolled in science and math programs than girls is because of gender, not sex? What that means is that there aren’t any biological differences in girls’ ability to [...]

What are the 5 Worst Stereotypes About Girls? « Because I am a Girl Blog August 26th, 2011 at 09:03

Livvy
May 19th, 2010 at 21:33

Wow.. that opened my eyes.

dghfdfhjfhlfhlfla
May 21st, 2010 at 01:07

“whereas the idea that “women should be in the kitchen” is obviously a gendered social construction.”

…and a heavily anachronistic one at that…

” But some are less clear, and the debate rages. Weakness is a great example. Is weakness a socially constructed idea of women, or is it an actual physical reality of our sex?”

the idea that women are weak is a socially deconstucted view of women.

what year is it? these questions and this topic were relevant in the 1960s, but they are only important today in the context of a history lesson.

katej
May 25th, 2010 at 15:34

Hi dghfdfhjfhlfhlfla,

You’re right…these questions were relevant back in the day, but they’re also relevant today. I have been told on this blog that I should “go back to the kitchen,” which suggests to me that that sentiment is not entirely an anachronism like we would hope. For me, that’s one reason to keep conversations like this going, even if they’ve been had a hundred times before.

Part of the goal of this blog is to give young women the tools they need to stand up for women’s and girl’s rights globally, and sometimes that means going back to the basics. Just knowing the difference between these two terms can open new doors of understanding as a woman in modern society.

No matter what year it is, these terms need to be discussed for the next generation of women – they are always relevant and should not be relegated to the history books.

Kate J

What are the 5 Worst Stereotypes About Girls? « Because I am a Girl Blog August 26th, 2011 at 09:03

[...] you know that more boys tend to be enrolled in science and math programs than girls is because of gender, not sex? What that means is that there aren’t any biological differences in girls’ ability to [...]
What are the 5 Worst Stereotypes About Girls? « Because I am a Girl Blog August 26th, 2011 at 09:03

[...] you know that more boys tend to be enrolled in science and math programs than girls is because of gender, not sex? What that means is that there aren’t any biological differences in girls’ ability to [...]