Equity Studies Assignment: Differences Between Sex and Gender

This essay, submitted for an Equity Studies course at York University, delves into the fundamental differences between sex and gender. It begins by clarifying that while often used interchangeably, sex refers to biological attributes like chromosomes and hormones, while gender encompasses socially constructed identities. The essay highlights the primary categorization of sex into male and female, acknowledging variations and the role of hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals. It then explores how society constructs gender, emphasizing the impact of social norms on gender roles and expectations. The essay references key sociological and feminist perspectives, including the concept of the social construction of gender and the work of scholars like Judith Butler and Simone de Beauvoir. It critiques societal expectations and challenges traditional gender roles, concluding that while sex is rooted in biology, gender is a complex, evolving construct shaped by societal norms and individual identity. The essay provides a critical analysis of these concepts, supported by academic references and APA formatting.

Running head: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND SEX
Difference between Gender and Sex
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND SEX
The terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are often used in a same context as something that means
similar, however, both of these terms are different in their meaning (Eckert). It may seem that the
meanings of gender and sex may overlap but sex is something that refers to the biological
attributes in both animals and humans; whereas, gender is something that refers to the socially
constructed identities of human.
Sex is mainly associated with physiological and physical features that include gene
expression, chromosomes, and reproductive anatomy and hormone levels. The primary
categorization that sex brings forth is that of male and female but there is a variation in the
biological attributes which comprises the concept of sex and it is also important to note how
those attributes are expressed.
The primary characteristic with which sex is defined is that in females there is the
predominance of estrogens and in the males there is the predominance of testosterone. However,
it must be kept in mind that every person has both of these hormones in them. For transgender
and non-conforming people, there is an option of hormone replacement therapy. The secondary
characteristic of sex is something which is easily identified since it includes facial hair, vocal
range, and breast tissue and so on.
When it comes to the point of defining gender, society plays a vital role. Since birth,
society has taught every human being that there are two genders which are of man and woman.
We are led to believe that the human who are assigned male at birth are men whilst those who
are assigned female are female in the eyes of the society. Even though majority of the people in
society identify themselves as either men or women, yet there is a possibility beyond and
between the two (Butler). There are bi-gender people who identify themselves as both man and

2DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND SEX
woman at certain points in their lives and again there are non-binary people who are unable to
align themselves to any gender within the binary of man and woman. Simon de Beauvoir stated
that one is simply not born but rather they become a woman; this statement was made whilst he
was formulating differences between gender and sex and tried to suggest that gender is such an
identity that is not assigned but is gradually acquired by the individuals (Butler).
In sociology and in feminism, construction of categories of gender by the society is a
theory that is known as the Social Construction of Gender (Lorber, Judith and Susan). This
theoretical viewpoint suggests that it is society and culture that assumes the responsibility of
creating roles that should be played by the genders. For instance, when an individual mentions,
high heels, a woman’s image is drawn in mind automatically because the society and culture
made it associated with only one category of gender. Social norms have made the perception of
high heels as feminine although there is nothing feminine about it.
Another socially created idea is that pink colour is for the girls and blue is for boys;
apparently it is due to the fact that social norms have formulated an image in which pink is a
feminine colour and whenever boys are found wearing this colour they have been seen to be
ridiculed. It must be kept in mind that gender is not only socially constructed concept, but it is
also an individualistic view of themselves and of their gender identity. Yet as per the definition
of gender by WHO, gender is the relationship, norms and roles between the groups of men and
women as it is constructed by the society. Since it varies from society to society, hence the
concept of gender can change (Van Goozen et al. 1995).
The role of gender, therefore are more rigid in some societies as compared to others.
There are expectations associated with each category of gender like the ability of decision

3DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND SEX
making or the ability of taking a financial responsibility and more (Sheppard and Mayo).
However, as the time passed and changes came into scene, these expectations were challenged.
Women refused to be bounded by the expectations of homemaking and child rearing.
In the current scenario, men are increasingly seen to take parts in tasks that were previously
expected from a single category of gender. Similarly, women are walking past their boundaries
to break all the misogynistic norms of the society in the form of social construction of gender. To
conclude, it can be said that sex refers simply to the physical and biological attributes, whereas,
gender is more complicated than that and is constructed and categorised by social norms. These
norms are changing and evolving more as the days pass.

4DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND SEX
References:
Butler, J., 1986. Sex and gender in Simone de Beauvoir's Second Sex. Yale French Studies, (72),
pp.35-49.
Butler, Judith. Undoing gender. routledge, 2004.
Eckert, Penelope. "The whole woman: Sex and gender differences in variation." Language
variation and change 1.3 (1989): 245-267.
Lorber, Judith, and Susan A. Farrell, eds. The social construction of gender. Newbury Park, CA:
Sage, 1991.
Sheppard, Maia, and J. B. Mayo Jr. "The social construction of gender and sexuality: Learning
from two spirit traditions." The Social Studies 104.6 (2013): 259-270.
Van Goozen, S.H., Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., Gooren, L.J., Frijda, N.H. and Van De Poll, N.E.,
1995. Gender differences in behaviour: Activating effects of cross-sex
hormones. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 20(4), pp.343-363.