Understanding the meaning and difference between gender and sex is very important. Often the use of these two terms is not correct, even though gender and sex have different meanings. Check out the explanation in this article.
Most of us have been raised with the simple idea of gender and sex, that is, the two sexes, male and female. This is what may make us less understand the meaning and difference between gender and sex.
Understanding and Differences between Gender and Sex
So that you are not misunderstood and understand the difference between gender and sex, below will be explained first about the meaning of the two:
Definition of sex
Sex is the division of two sexes, namely male and female, which is determined biologically. Sex is also related to the basic physical characteristics and functions of humans, starting from chromosomes, hormone levels, and the shape of the reproductive organs.
For example, men and women have different reproductive organs, both from the inside and outside. Similarly, the types and levels of hormones in the bodies of men and women. These are called primary sex characteristics.
Apart from primary sex characteristics, there are also secondary sex characteristics. These are sex characteristics that occur because of differences in primary sex characteristics.
For example, men and women both have breasts, but the secondary characteristics of women are breast tissue that contains more fat and mammary glands due to hormonal influences.
Although generally there are clear differences between sex, there is also an inherited condition that causes a person to be born with a combination of male and female sex characteristics (multiple sexes), both physically and genetically. This condition is known as intersex. An example is Klinefelter syndrome.
Definition of gender
Gender is society's perception or refers to a person's role, behavior, expression, and identity, both male and female. This term is also closely related to sexual orientation, for example homosexual, heterosexual, and bisexual.
Gender is usually associated with masculine and feminine terms. Masculine is associated with male traits, such as dashing, strong, and leading. While feminine is associated with female traits, such as nurturing, gentle, and sensitive.
How one community group determines the role or nature of a gender can be different from another and can also change over time.
For example, in the past, masculine traits were considered absent in women and feminine traits did not exist in men. In fact, it is now understood by many that men can also be nurturing and women can also lead.
Another term related to gender is gender identity. Gender identity is how a person views himself. In the case of transgender, it is possible for a man to see and think he is a woman, or vice versa.
Not only that, there is also something called gender expression. This is how a person expresses himself, whether in terms of behavior, clothes, voice, or haircut, according to his gender or not.
Gender and Sex Differences
From the explanation above, we can see where the differences between gender and sex are, but we can also see the attachment between the two. Both have a relationship with gender. However, sex is absolute, while gender tends not.
Sex is a biological difference between a man and a woman that is innate from birth. Meanwhile, gender is the characteristics of men and women that are formed and built in the surrounding environment or society.
The nature of the term sex cannot be changed, while gender can, because the definition of gender is not solely about a person's genetics.
As explained above, men can have dominant feminine traits, and vice versa. However, a man cannot have a vagina and a woman cannot have a penis.
Understanding and the difference between gender and sex may indeed be more complicated than we understand so far. However, the most important thing we can do is respect each person's sex and gender identity. This can also be conveyed to children and adolescents through sexual education.
If you know someone who has difficulty expressing or accepting their gender identity, don't hesitate to suggest consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist. That way, he can get advice or even therapy if needed.