Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Definitions

• Definitions of gender, sex, and sexuality are complex and nuanced.

Sex Defined

• Identity is based on anatomy and physiological traits like genitalia, hormones, chromosomes, and reproductive features.
• Sex identity is assigned at birth.
• Common terms include male, female, and intersex.
• Sex is typically referred to as biological

Gender as a Social Construct

• Social scientists define gender as a socially constructed identity, not an essential one.
• An individual's personal gender identity may or may not align with the identity that society has assigned or assumed.
• Society determines which characteristics are considered masculine, feminine, both, or neither, which informs the idea of a gender binary.
• Gender norms/roles/expectations: Socially appropriate or inappropriate clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, etc., based on sex identity
• Gender norms/roles/expectations operate within a gender binary framework in Western culture.
• Judith Butler's concept of performativity of gender is relevant.

Gender Expectations

• Gender norms/roles/expectations differ depending on time and place.

Gender Identity

• Gender identity is how one thinks of one's gender in one's own mind.
• Gender expression is how one presents gender to the rest of the world; often consistent with their gender identity.
• Cisgender: A person’s gender identity matches the sex/gender identity assigned at birth; typical terms are man/woman.
• Nonbinary: A person’s gender identity falls outside or within traditional understandings of masculine and feminine; includes terms like nonbinary, gender fluid, and genderqueer.
• Agender: A person lacking a gender identity.
• Trans: A person whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex/gender assigned at birth.
• The English language is gendered, using gendered pronouns.

Gender: A Complex Construction

• Laverne Cox, trans actor from Orange Is the New Black, is a trans activist.
• More Americans identify as gender non-conforming, but acceptance of gender non-conforming people isn't universal in the U.S.
• The exploration of gender identity, and acceptance or rejection of gender diversity, are influenced by religion, politics, age, geography, and other factors

Consequences of Categorizing by Gender: The Gender Gap

• Gendered ideas have been used to subjugate women and gender non-conforming people, reflecting a concept of patriarchy.
• The gender gap refers to disparities between men and women/nonbinary people in terms of educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and wealth.
• Gender gaps historically: women were prevented from voting until 1920 (19th Amendment), could not attend medical or professional schools until the mid-20th century, and could not own property in all states until the 20th century; trans people could be fired for being trans (now unconstitutional).
• Gender is important in healthcare because gendered ideas impact healthcare and outcomes, similar to race/ethnicity.
• Issues pertaining to gender and gender gaps are often studied from a binary perspective, although there is some evidence of change.

The Gender Pay Gap

• Women make roughly 83.7 cents for every dollar a man makes when comparing the average earnings of all full-time men to women.

Gender and the Workplace: Pay Equity

• Maternity/motherhood contribute to the gender wage gap due to unpaid family leave and the need to leave work earlier to care for sick children, which impacts promotions.
• Women without children also experience a pay gap.
• Other reasons for the pay gap: implicit/explicit biases, occupational choices, inflexible work schedules, the use of "previous salaries" in determining new salaries, and resistance to women negotiating for higher wages.
• Women still bear most of the responsibilities of childbearing/rearing responsibilities, even when working full-time ("second shift").
• The pandemic led to more women shifting schedules to accommodate children being home or leaving/losing jobs more than men.