Differentiation between Sex and Gender

Sex and gender are closely connected though there is a huge distinction between them. In accordance to Williams “Sex is a word used to refer to the physical differences between men as well as women.” The term sex is easy to understand since it simply means biological distinctions between the male and female. A good example is the differences in human organisms related to reproduction. On the other hand according to Williams, “Gender is a term generally used in connection to individual’s behavior as well as cultural practices of both men and women”. Generally gender refers to the cultural as well as social differences between the two individuals. It is also a term used in illustrating how the environment encourages plus educates the two sexes on behaving in different ways through socialization. Gender is hereby understood as the differences in altitude as well as behaviors therefore; these differences are distinguished as the products of socialization rather than biological. Unlike for sex, gender it a term that the society probably use in differentiating the expectations of people in regard to the behavior of the male as well as female. The main features related to sex are biological in such a way that, men have testicles while the female have ovaries. As the Williams states, “The term sex is easy to understand in that; gents have penis while the ladies have vagina” (qtd. In Christine 132) On the same article gender feature are that, men ahs short hair where women has long hair, women works more on the household chore as compared to men “One cultural explanation of gender is that in some places, women cover their head while men do not” (qtd In Christine 132).

Sex and Gender are not similar even though they generates a clear understanding of women are human females and men as human males. Despite the fact that many feminist have historically disagreed with the two terms differences, there is still a huge difference between the two definitions. Nature is the major impact in understanding the differences between these two terminologies whereby; it has generated the disparity on women and men, from the outset in their inceptions when they become human beings. According to Williams views on sex; “Individual’s bi-sexual actions are not only conditioned by the culture plus the process of socialization, but also are inherent during the first making of babies in their mother’s womb” (qtd In Christine 132). On the other hand, Gender is an aspect that majors on individual’s behavior whereby; the society expects men or women to behave differently. For gender the existing social environment system describes the outlook of masculinity as well as femininity.

Sex and gender are useful to distinguish because the several differences between male as well as female are not natural in origin. The need to distinguish between the two terms is more essential because, the society today is filled with individuals who choose to live their personal lives as members of the opposite sex. The idea of people living their own live has generated then to rethink careful on the speculations on sex as well as gender. With the two terms masculine and feminine cannot be judged in reference to the biological evidences. Understanding sex designation is important because one is able to learn that it is difficult to change, people are born either male or female. On the hand according to Hausman “Gender is a social aspect that can be easily changed because it identity is determined by the culture” (qtd.In Hausman 65).

With the biological explanation the differences between men and women is easily depicted from their behaviors whereby; it connects to brain and hormones differently. I would agree with the belief that individual’s differences are caused by nature whereby; men seem to be more assertive as well as aggressive as compared to women. However, the two terms are useful in their differences as Hausman states “Sex is a natural or biological facet and gender is a cultural or learned feature.”  (qt.In Hausman 65).To illustrate the statement, the nature generates what individuals are because; one is not born a woman but rather becomes one. In other words when a person is born with sex and, gender is later dictated by the social surrounding where they fall into.

Gender is easily distinguished from sex where it is referred to as non- binary thus; indicating two male and female. Non-binary term is used in reference to those individuals who class themselves as neither male nor female. The basic thing to understand of these kind of people is that they are identifies as non-binary and their gender identity is valid “Genderqueer” (qtd. In Christine 132) is the idiom used for the people who do not define their gender in binary terms. There is a belief that such individuals consider their gender as fluid thus; feels they have no gender to speak of. Non-binary also believes that their sex cannot be identified as binary therefore uses the same term in gender to describe their sex.

A good example of binary individual is the child Storm, a four month old child who was raised with no gender. The child’s gender remained as a secret since the parent wanted it that way. Storm is a child whose identity formation is very critical on gender since, it is where many cultural as well as social forces are. As Joshua states, “The child’s gender neutrality generates an idea that physical appearance as well as various social institutions should not limit the division of roles, in accordance to individual’s sex or gender” (qtd In Joshua 1). However, neutrality shows that there should be no discrimination arising from the impression that there is cultural responsibility for which the masculinity is more suited than femininity.

Recently in 2017 there is a story of a binary individual who prefer to be called E hated to be recognized with the male gender despite her neutral gender.  As Vrijens states, “E hated to wear dresses even though she had searched for the right label on her identity as a she” (qtd. In Vrijens et al 2). Such people hardly embrace their nature since all they do is questioning their identity. Scientists have tried to solve the argument on sex and gender and according to Vrijens sex and gender should be considered together and not as separate. He suggests that they are similar and does not exist independently. I would disagree with the scientists view focusing on the history of sex and, their recent work on gender to prove that they are both discursive structure. Every single day the sex and gender minorities are considered with their sex as well as gender checkboxes.

According to Dr. Cary he states that “A binary sex must be checked on their birth certificates.” However, individuals with intersex bodies generate a crisis between doctors as well as parents since there is a confusion on which box in the birth certificate should the gender be indicated. Birth Certificate results causes parent to live with guilt as they hide their children’s gender from the society. It is not easy to determine which sex or gender an intersex is at birth whereby; some realizes their place as they grow. However it is good for the birth certificates to have a check box for the intersex because, it is easy for the parents to acknowledge their children’s physical truth. As Crey suggests, “Neutral gender individual’s faces difficult situation after transition due to the checkboxes” (qtd.In Crey 1) It is therefore so important for them to have a box for intersex, in order to avoid misunderstanding with life.

In conclusion the argument stands at a point that sex and gender are aspects of natural differences. Sex’s differences are provided naturally by biological difference for example, in situation where a woman must receive her monthly period whereby men have no menstruation. The foundation on the two human aspects is districted by culture as well as biological. In recent days sex and gender meaning are changing in a way that, people are choosing to follow their stereotype whereby; they are deciding to do thing their own way rather than what the society requires of them. This clearly shows why there is no need to differentiate the two aspects they do not appear changeable today.

Work Cited

 

Christine L. Williams. Sexuality and Gender.ISBN.2011.Print

Dr. Cary Gabriel Costello. Trans Fusion: On Sex/Gender Checkboxes.Blogspot.2012. Print

Hausman, Bernice L. Changing Sex: Transsexualism, Technology and the Idea of Gender. Durham [u.a.: Duke Univ. Press, 2006. Print.

Joshua Ostroff. Baby Storm Now: Dad David Stocker On The Uproar And Storm's Gender Identity.Huffigton post.2016.Print.

Vrijens, Karen, et al. "Sex-Specific Associations between Particulate Matter Exposure and Gene Expression in Independent Discovery and Validation Cohorts of Middle-Aged Men and Women." Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 125, no. 4, Apr. 2017, pp. 660-669. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1289/EHP370.