Sexuality and Gender are two of the basic concepts of human identity, but most people fail to understand them and often confuse them with one another. Sexuality is about the kind of people we like and the ways that we get attracted to those kinds of people. Gender refers to identity and roles set by society based on this identity. This article will therefore seek to clarify these concepts, indicate their differences, and explore their intersections in hopes of fostering a society that is more inclusive and understanding.
What is Sexuality?
Sexuality is the attraction of an emotional, romantic, and sexual nature. It deals with various orientations, including heterosexuality—being attracted to the opposite sex—homosexuality, which means being attracted to the same sex, bisexuality—the one being attracted to both sexes—and asexuality, meaning no sexual attraction at all. Sexuality is one of the core elements of our identity and is capable of changing. Sexuality is not only about who we have sex with; rather, it relates to whom we fall in love with or whom we relate to in-depth.
For example, a bisexual person may be both homosexually and heterosexually inclined toward all types of genders. That does not mean that they are always comparably interested in all genders, nor does their attraction remain the same over time. Keeping this fine line in mind allows us to appreciate the richness of human experiences and relationships.
What is Gender?
On the other hand, gender refers to identity and the role somebody plays in society. Traditionally, gender has been looked upon as an either/or equation: male or female. However, contemporary notions of gender understand it to be more of a spectrum. This spectrum encompasses transgender people, whose sense of their gender doesn’t correspond with the sex they were told to be at birth; non-binary people, who don’t identify strictly as male or female; and genderqueer people, who reject traditional gender categories.
Gender identity is how we think of ourselves—our internal sense of being male, female, or a combination of both or neither. Our gender expression is how we express our gender to the world around us through our appearance, behaviour and attire. These expressions can be quite fluid and do not always align with what our culture might expect our behaviour to be like based on our sex.
How Do Sexuality and Gender Intersect?
While sexuality and gender are not the same, they do intersect in important ways. For instance, a transgender person could be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or asexual, just like any cisgender person (someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth). These crossings can form the basis of experiences for the person, like discrimination or acceptance.
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Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality tries to explain how these different identity markers interplay to produce unique experiences of oppression or privilege. Grasping these differences is important in addressing the specific challenges that people face and brews advocacy for more inclusive policies.
Examples of Sex
Biological Characteristics:
- Male: Represented with XY chromosomes, the presence of testes, higher levels of testosterone, and secondary sexual attributes, like facial hair, and a deep voice.
- Female: Represented by XX chromosomes, presence of ovaries, higher levels of estrogen and progesterone, and secondary sexual attributes, like breasts and wide hips.
- Intersex: Born with both male and female biological features, one of which could be having genitalia that are ambiguous or having both XX and XY chromosomes. Intersex people do not fit the typical binary concepts of male or female bodies.
Reproductive Roles:
- Male: From the point of view of reproduction, males produce sperm.
- Female: Females produce eggs, or ova, and support and deliver offspring.
Examples of Gender
Gender Identity:
- Cisgender Male: A male assigned at birth and identifies as male.
- Cisgender Female: A female assigned at birth and identifies as female.
- Transgender Male: A female assigned at birth but identifies and is currently living as a man.
- Transgender Female: A male assigned at birth but identifies and is currently living as a woman.
- Non-binary: The individual who does not identify him/herself as just a male or a female. They may consider themself both, neither, or another gender altogether besides these two.
- Genderqueer: A person whose identity rejects commonsense conceptions about gender and often considers themselves to belong to both, neither, or something other than these genders.
Gender Expression:
- Masculine: Traits, behaviours, and roles typically attributed to males such as wearing a suit, having short hair, or acting a certain way that is considered assertive.
- Feminine: Characteristics, behaviours and roles typically associated with being female, such as wearing dresses, having long hair, or possessing qualities such as being cute or nurturing.
- Androgynous: Characteristics that are either a mix of masculine and feminine or close to neutral on both, such as wearing attire that does not look specifically male or female, or having a fluid choice in gender expression.
Social Roles and Expectations:
- Traditional Male Roles: Being the sole breadwinner, being strong and firm in one’s character, with leadership roles accruing to them
- Traditional Female Roles: Being a caregiver, being nurturing, taking on supporting roles Shifting Standards
These roles have mainly been dispelled and diversified in modern society. Men are now advised to be more involved in caregiving and emotional expression, while women are advised toward career and leadership roles.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Community, issues and prejudices faced by them
Intersections and Variability
A transgender male could be a person who was assigned female at birth based on biology but who identifies and lives as male. He may take hormones or undergo surgery to bring his physical appearance in line with his gender identity.
It means a non-binary person could be assigned male or female at birth, but they do not identify as a strict male or female. Their gender expression might vary every day or be the same all the time as a mix between masculine and feminine.
A cis female may break these conventional gender roles in the family when she becomes the bread-earner, exhibiting some of the characteristics considered male traits such as being assertive and independent.
Why It’s Important to Understand These Differences
Knowing the differences and connections between sexuality and gender is very important in creating an inclusive and fair society. Misconceptions can amount to discrimination, marginalization, and even violence against people who do not fit well in the traditions. Education and awareness thus create space where everyone can be safe in expressing their identities.
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All schools and workplaces should ensure a safe environment for all of their members, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. This, by default, encompasses anti-discrimination policies, resources, support, and awareness through the promotion of acceptance of this issue.
Conclusion
Sexuality and gender are thus definitive aspects of our identities. They define our perception of ourselves and how we relate with the rest of the world. Understanding and respecting these differences empowers our society by letting everyone be free to just be themselves. The embracing of diversity is not tolerance, but an expression of the enrichment brought to human experience and identity through diversity.
References +
- Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). What’s the difference between gender and sexuality? In Planned Parenthood. https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/_documents/life-at-mc/mc-pride/gender-vs-sexuality.pdf
- Vinney, C., PhD. (2024, April 18). Sexuality vs. Gender: What’s the Difference? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-difference-between-gender-and-sexuality-5207899
- Sex, gender, and sexuality. (2024, January 17). National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/sex-gender-sexuality
