Is there a difference between “sex” and “gender”? What is it? What is the “sex vs. gender” debate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sex is determined by a person’s genes, whereas gender is determined by whether you fit society’s mold of “man” or “woman.” Although related to sex, gender isn’t determined by your genes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ll cover the sex vs. gender debate and why this distinction has been so hard to grasp throughout history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
One hierarchy that is<\/em> based in biology is the division of Sapiens into males and females. This is the origin of the sex vs. gender debate. Most people believe that since sex is biological, so is gender. In order to understand which elements of the men\/women divide are natural, or biological, and which are socially constructed, we need to understand the difference between \u201csex\u201d and \u201cgender.\u201d Because what makes someone a man or woman is based on a culture\u2019s myths, the definitions of \u201cman\u201d and \u201cwoman\u201d have varied greatly across the world and over the centuries. \u201cMasculine\u201d and \u201cfeminine\u201d are also subjective terms based on myth, not biology. Because people are biologically male or female but no one is inherently masculine or feminine, people are pressured to relentlessly prove their masculinity or femininity<\/strong> throughout their lives through rituals such as getting into fights, applying makeup, watching football, and wearing dresses. It’s confusion regarding the difference between sex and gender<\/a> that spawns the sex vs. gender debate. While sex characteristics have remained constant over time, characteristics of masculinity and femininity have changed dramatically.<\/strong> This is one way you know that these characteristics are social rather than biological. For example, in the 18th century, King Louis XIV was the picture of virile masculinity, shown in an official portrait in a long curly wig, tights, high heels, and colorful, sumptuous fabrics. In contrast, a portrait of Barack Obama in a suit shows the ideal of masculinity in the 21st century: dark colors and simple, streamlined lines. Many societies have used biological differences to argue that males and females should have certain rights and behave in certain ways. When an individual or group does something society doesn\u2019t approve of, it\u2019s called \u201cunnatural.\u201d<\/strong> For instance, throughout history, society has held varying views on the naturalness of homosexuality. In today\u2019s Greece, society holds that females should be sexually attracted to males and vice versa, and that this is a \u201cbiological reality\u201d because humans evolved the ability to have sex to procreate, and homosexual relationships do not result in procreation. They believe homosexuality is unnatural. But cultures of ancient Greece saw homosexuality as natural and productive, a way to cement male bonds. Both Achilles in the Iliad<\/em> and Alexander the Great had male lovers.
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nNatural Versus Unnatural Behavior<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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