3.2 The sex/gender distinction and its critiques

The sex/gender distinction challenges the idea that biological sex determines gender identity and roles. It separates physical traits from social expectations, opening up possibilities for diverse gender expressions and identities beyond the male-female binary.

Critics argue this distinction oversimplifies complex relationships between bodies, identities, and social norms. They highlight how biological sex itself is socially constructed and how gender influences our understanding of physical differences.

Biological Sex and Intersex

Sex and Biological Sex

Top images from around the web for Sex and Biological Sex

• 

  Frontiers | The differential view of genotype–phenotype relationships View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Genome-Wide Sex and Gender Differences in Cancer View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Characteristics and Traits | OpenStax Biology 2e View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | The differential view of genotype–phenotype relationships View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Genome-Wide Sex and Gender Differences in Cancer View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Sex and Biological Sex

• 

  Frontiers | The differential view of genotype–phenotype relationships View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Genome-Wide Sex and Gender Differences in Cancer View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Characteristics and Traits | OpenStax Biology 2e View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | The differential view of genotype–phenotype relationships View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Genome-Wide Sex and Gender Differences in Cancer View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define males and females
• Biological sex is determined by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and anatomical factors
• Typically assigned at birth based on external genitalia (penis for males, vagina for females)
• Includes internal reproductive organs, chromosomes (XX for females, XY for males), and hormonal differences
• Biological sex is not always binary; variations exist along a spectrum

Intersex Conditions

• Intersex refers to a variety of conditions in which a person's sexual anatomy or chromosomes do not fit the typical definitions of male or female
• Can involve ambiguous genitalia, variations in chromosomes (e.g., XXY, XO), or discrepancies between internal and external sexual anatomy
• Occurs in approximately 1.7% of the population
• Examples include androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Klinefelter syndrome
• Historically, intersex individuals were often subjected to non-consensual "corrective" surgeries; this practice is now considered a human rights violation

Gender Identity and Expression

Gender and Gender Identity

• Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities associated with being male, female, or other gender categories
• Gender identity is an individual's internal sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with their biological sex
• Gender identity can be masculine, feminine, a blend of both, neither, or other identities like non-binary or genderqueer
• Develops through a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors

Gender Expression and Binary/Non-Binary Identities

• Gender expression refers to how a person presents their gender through appearance, behavior, and other external characteristics
• Includes clothing, hairstyles, mannerisms, and other markers of gender
• Binary gender identities are man/male and woman/female; non-binary identities exist outside or between these categories
• Non-binary is an umbrella term encompassing identities like genderqueer, agender, bigender, and gender fluid
• Binary gender norms and expectations are culturally and historically specific, not universal

Transgender and Cisgender Identities

• Transgender describes individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth
• Cisgender describes individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth
• Transgender people may transition socially (e.g., name, pronouns, expression) and/or medically (e.g., hormones, surgery)
• Not all transgender people undergo medical interventions; being transgender is not dependent on physical changes
• Transgender identities have existed throughout history and across cultures, though terminology has varied

Sex/Gender System and Theory

Sex/Gender System

• The sex/gender system is a concept describing how society constructs and enforces a binary division between male and female
• Assigns specific roles, characteristics, and expectations to each sex/gender category
• Upholds gender hierarchy and inequality, with masculinity and men positioned as superior to femininity and women
• Shapes individual identities, social interactions, and institutional structures
• Varies across cultures and historical periods, demonstrating that gender is not fixed or "natural"

Gayle Rubin's Theory

• Gayle Rubin, an anthropologist and feminist theorist, coined the term "sex/gender system" in her 1975 essay "The Traffic in Women"
• Rubin argued that gender is a socially imposed division of the sexes, not a natural or inevitable fact
• Described how the sex/gender system structures kinship, marriage, sexual relations, and the division of labor
• Emphasized how the sex/gender system is a product of human activity that can be transformed through feminist activism
• Rubin's work laid the foundation for the study of gender as a social construct distinct from biological sex