The earlier understanding of gender was that sex has to do with nature, and gender has to do with culture. This meant that for an individual, sex was biological, i.e. an individual was either a male with an XY chromosome or a female with XX chromosome. Sex refers to physical or physiological differences between males and females, including primary sex characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as height and muscularity, deep voice, facial hair, etc. There are many types of gender identity. Learn more about their definitions, the difference between sex and gender, and how gender exists on a spectrum here. Broadly speaking, gender can be understood as a socially constructed set of norms, roles and behaviours. These are associated with the sex assigned to a person at birth, which shape their access to power, resources, and equitable enjoyment of rights, among other areas. Sex and gender Different terms are regularly used in theories of sexuality and gender, for example sex, gender, gender identity, gender expressions, gender roles, sexual orientation. It is important to be clear about the meanings of such terms.
