1. Project Conversations
2. Discuss Defining Men and Women
Are the gender characteristics you've described more a result of nature
(biological) or nuture (learned through socialization)?
6. Gender Terminology
Biological/Anatomical Sex: The physical structure of one’s reproductive
organs that is used to assign sex at birth. Biological sex is determined by
chromosomes (XX for females; XY for males); hormones (estrogen/progesterone for
females, testosterone for males); and internal and external genitalia (vulva,
clitoris, vagina for assigned females, penis and testicles for assigned males).
Given the potential variation in all of these, biological sex must be seen as a
spectrum or range of possibilities rather than a binary set of two options.
Gender
Identity: One’s innermost concept of self as male or female or both or
neither—how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves.
One’s gender identity can be the same or different than the sex assigned at
birth. Individuals are conscious of this between the ages 18 months and 3
years. Most people develop a gender identity that matches their biological sex.
For some, however, their gender identity is different from their biological or
assigned sex. Some of these individuals choose to socially, hormonally and/or
surgically change their sex to more fully match their gender identity.
Gender
Expression: Refers to the ways in which people externally communicate
their gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, haircut, voice, and
other forms of presentation. Gender expression also works the other way as
people assign gender to others based on their appearance, mannerisms, and other
gendered characteristics. Sometimes, transgender people seek to match their
physical expression with their gender identity, rather than their
birth-assigned sex. Gender expression should not be viewed as an indication
of sexual orientation.
Gender Role: This is the set of
roles, activities, expectations and behaviors assigned to females and males by
society. Our culture recognizes two basic gender roles: Masculine (having the
qualities attributed to males) and feminine (having the qualities attributed to
females). People who step out of their socially assigned gender roles are
sometimes referred to as transgender. Other cultures have three or more gender
roles.
Transgender: Sometimes used as an umbrella to describe anyone whose identity or
behavior falls outside of stereotypical gender norms. More narrowly defined, it
refers to an individual whose gender identity does not match their assigned
birth gender. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation
(attraction to people of a specific gender.) Therefore, transgender people may
additionally identify with a variety of other sexual identities as well.
Sexual Orientation: Term that refers to being romantically or sexually
attracted to people of a specific gender. Our sexual orientation and our gender
identity are separate, distinct parts of our overall identity. Although a
child may not yet be aware of their sexual orientation, they usually have a
strong sense of their gender identity.
