Sex and Gender Overview

Sex

• Sex is assigned at birth and typically categorized as male or female.
• It is based on biological, physiological, and physical characteristics.
• Primary sex characteristics include the penis (for those assigned male at birth, AMAB) and the vagina (for those assigned female at birth, AFAB).
• Secondary sex characteristics develop during puberty, including broadening of shoulders and an Adam’s apple (in males) and widening of hips, breast growth, and menstruation (in females).
• Pubic hair growth is also a secondary sex characteristic common to both males and females.
• Intersex individuals have both primary sex characteristics (penis and vagina), and while operable, cannot reproduce on their own.

Gender

• A deeply personal and expressive way of being.
• Influenced by psychological, social, and cultural factors:
  • Psychological: Individual's internal sense of self
  • Social: Society’s expectations and norms of how individuals should behave based on their perceived gender, which can be learned and internalized across different cultures and time periods.
  • Cultural: Constructed traits and expectations associated with gender, encouraging individuals to conform to socially acceptable conventions.

Gender Identity

• Cisgender: Individuals whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.
• Transgender: Individuals whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth.
• Transsexual: Individuals who have undergone biological changes (surgery and/or hormone treatments) to align their bodies with their gender identity.

Gender Spectrum

• Non-binary: Individuals who identify outside of the woman-man dichotomy.
• Bigender: Individuals who identify with both male and female genders.
• Agender: Individuals who do not identify with any gender.
• Queer: Often used as an umbrella term encompassing individuals who identify outside traditional gender categories.

Sex

• Sex is assigned at birth based on biological, physiological, and physical characteristics.
• Primary Sex Characteristics (PSC) are the genitalia present at birth, including the penis (Assigned Male at Birth - AMAB) and vagina (Assigned Female at Birth - AFAB).
• Secondary Sex Characteristics (SSC) develop during puberty and include:
  • Male: Broadening shoulders, Adam's apple
  • Female: Widening hips, breast growth, menstruation
  • Pubic hair (general)
• Intersex individuals have both a penis and vagina present at birth.
• Hormones play a significant role in sex development and puberty.
• Testosterone is the primary male hormone, and estrogen and progesterone are the primary female hormones.

Gender

• Gender is a deeply personal expression of one's identity.
• Psychological aspects of gender include its political, analytical, and individual nature.
• Social aspects of gender involve societal expectations, norms, and roles.
• Cultural aspects of gender are constructed traits and social conventions.

Gender Identity

• Cisgender individuals have a gender identity aligning with their sex assigned at birth.
• Transgender individuals have a gender identity that differs from their sex assigned at birth.
• Transsexual individuals medically transition their bodies to align with their gender identity through surgeries and hormone therapy.

Binary Genders

• Non-binary individuals identify outside the traditional male-female binary spectrum.
• Bigender individuals identify as both male and female.
• Agender individuals identify as having no gender.
• Queer is an umbrella term often used to encompass LGBTQ+ identities, including non-binary individuals.

This quiz explores the differences between sex and gender, including biological characteristics and societal influences. It covers primary and secondary sex characteristics, as well as the concept of intersex and the psychological aspects of gender identity. Test your understanding of these foundational topics in human biology and sociology.