Sex and Gender in Society

SEX, GENDER, GENDER EXPRESSION, AND GENDER IDENTITY
Sex and Gender in Society

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SEX AND GENDER. SEX IS DEFINED
AS WHAT WE ARE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH—MALE, FEMALE OR INTERSEX—WHILE
GENDER REFERS TO HOW SOCIETY TELLS US TO BEHAVE AS A WOMAN OR A MAN—
FEMININE OR MASCULINE. Gender can also be how a person behaves and understands
their gender in relation to others. Understanding the basics about sex and gender are
very important when advocating for and providing services to every survivor, but perhaps
especially the transgender community. This Technical Assistance Bulletin introduces and
highlights the diversity that exists in biological sex, gender, gender expression, and gender
BIOLOGICAL SEX GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, AND

Biological sex categorizes a person based on
the visible genitalia they possess at birth. Most people “Gender is the way society creates,
are classified as female or male and some people are patterns, and rewards our understandings of
classified as intersex1. People with intersex conditions femininity and masculinity” (Shaw & Lee, 2012,
may have ambiguous genitalia, a combination of both p.105). In other words, society dictates what
female and male genitalia, or chromosomal patterns are considered “acceptable” behaviors, jobs,
are neither XX (female) or XY (male). appearances, and beyond for women and men.
Parents of babies who are intersex are We are taught gender from birth: girls are to
sometimes persuaded by doctors to “fix” their baby’s act and be feminine (wear dresses, like pink,
genitalia with surgeries so that they fit into more be nurturing, etc.) and boys are to act and be
traditional understandings masculine (wear suits, like blue,
of sex/genitalia. These The American Academy of Pediatrics be protectors, etc.). Gender is
surgeries are largely released a “Consensus Statement on a performance of mannerisms,
unnecessary as health Management of Intersex Disorders” ideas, and behaviors that we
concerns associated with which discourages cosmetic surgeries act out daily – most often
intersex genitalia are for people who are born intersex. subconsciously – because it is
rare. Some parents opt what society has taught us to
for surgical intervention do.
because our society reinforces a two-sex system where Gender identity is an
only “normal” female or male genitalia are acceptable. individual’s internal sense of their own gender
As medicine advances and intersex rights groups have and gender expression is how an individual
worked hard to educate physicians, pediatricians are outwardly expresses their gender. How we express
now moving away from genital reconstructive surgeries our gender as individuals is played out through
until the child is old enough to determine what is right clothing, hairstyles, tattoos, voice inflection, etc.
for them. It is important to remember that both gender
expression and gender expressions
PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE
125 North Enola Drive • Enola, PA 17025
717-728-9740 • 800-692-7445 • TTY 877-585-1091 • pcar.org
© Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape 2013. All rights reserved.
PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE SEX, GENDER, GENDER EXPRESSION, AND GENDER IDENTITY
are performances; they are something we more comfortable in their bodies. Some individuals
“do” according to our personal preferences may alter some or all of their (legal) documents, such
and either reinforced or condemned through as driver’s license, health insurance, bank accounts,
society’s domination of “acceptable” norms for and many other forms of documentation.
femininity and masculinity. Not all individuals who identify as
As different as sex and gender are, transgender medically or legally transition from
they share a commonality of unequal power one gender to another. They might not live
dynamics. People who are born male and as their preferred gender full-time, because of
taught masculinity are given privileges over employment discrimination, family disapproval,
people who are born or public hostility. Other
female and taught transgender people may
There are as many as five sexes!
femininity. To this end, take no steps to alter their
For more information, read Anne
both women and men body or documentation,
Fausto-Sterling’s classic article (1993),
who express femininity either because they have a
“The Five Sexes: Why Male and
are subject to harassment, fluid gender identity, lack
Female Are Not Enough”.
bullying, and sexual the funds or resources to
violence. They may also transition, or have made a
be denied things like jobs or housing. This is personal choice that values some other component
not to say that those who express masculinity of their life greater than the desire to change their
are not subject to intense harassment, bullying body or outward gendered expression.
and sexual violence. As discussed below,
transmen (women who transition to men) are A JOURNEY
targeted for their gender identity and gender
expression as well as subject to sexual violence. Sex, gender and gender identity are not
People who identify as transgender may fixed into the two categories of female or male,
or may not identify with the societal norms feminine or masculine. Rather, they are continuums
associated with the sex they were assigned of biological and cultural make up. For many people
at birth. In other words, a biological female who identify as transgender, the destination is what
or female-bodied person, or someone who is vitally important to them. The journey can be
was sexed as female at birth, feels like their painful and the destination may be out of reach/
gender expression is masculine (transman). impossible. But for many, the goal is the destination
And, a biological male or male-bodied person, of living in a specific gender or living in a certain
or someone who was sexed as male at birth, gendered way.
feels like their gender expression is feminine Understanding the differences between these
(transwoman). concepts is important in order to better serve the
“Transgender is sometimes used to transgender community. The way we approach our
include people who self-identify as transsexual, own journey into understanding sex, gender, gender
intersex, two-spirit, gender-queer, drag queens, identity and gender expression helps improve our
cross dressers, and others” (National Sexual services and outreach efforts when working with the
Violence Resource Center [NSVRC], 2012, p. 3). transgender community.
Some people who identify as For more information on terminology, please
transgender use hormones and/or surgery(ies) see Talking About Gender & Sexuality: Sexual
to alter their outward appearance and become Violence & Individuals Who Identify as LGBTQ
(NSVRC, 2012).
PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE 2 SEX, GENDER, GENDER EXPRESSION, AND GENDER IDENTITY
REFERENCES
Lee, Peter A. et al (2006). Consensus Statement
on Management of Intersex Disorders.
Pediatrics, (118) 2.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/
content/118/2/e488.full
Fausto-Sterling, A. (1993, March/April). The five

sexes: Why male and female are not enough.
The Sciences, 20-24. Retrieved from http://
www.uta.edu/english/timothyr/Fausto-Sterling.
pdf
National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

(2012). Talking about gender & sexuality:
Sexual violence & individuals who identify as
LGBTQ. Retrieved from http://nsvrc.org/sites/
default/files/Publications_NSVRC_Guides_Talking-
Gender-Sexuality.pdf AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This Technical Assistance Bulletin was created
Shaw, S. M., & Lee, J. (2012). Women’s voices, by PCAR’s LGBTQ Workgroup and authored
feminist visions: Classic and contemporary by Katie Taylor, Technical Assistance
readings. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Coordinator. Special appreciation would
like to be extended to michael munson of
NOTES FORGE.
According to the Intersex Society of North
America (ISNA), 1 in 100 people are born
intersex. For more information, please visit the
ISNA’s website: www.isna.org
PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE

125 North Enola Drive • Enola, PA 17025
717-728-9740 • 800-692-7445 • TTY 877-585-1091 • pcar.org
© Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape 2013. All rights reserved.
PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE 3 SEX, GENDER, GENDER EXPRESSION, AND GENDER IDENTITY

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SEX, GENDER, GENDER EXPRESSION, AND GENDER IDENTITY

Sex and Gender in Society

BIOLOGICAL SEX GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, AND

Fausto-Sterling, A. (1993, March/April). The five

National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE

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