From dictionary.com
- Sex is "either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions."
- Gender is "either of the two sexes (male and female), especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones. The term is also used more broadly to denote a range of identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female."
Why is this so confusing?
There may be ongoing confusion about the difference between the concepts of sex and gender due to a variety of factors. One factor may be that the two terms are often used interchangeably, even though they refer to distinct concepts. Additionally, the relationship between sex and gender is not always clear or straightforward, and there is a lack of consensus about how to define and differentiate between the two.
Another factor contributing to the confusion may be the fact that gender is a social and cultural construct, and therefore it can vary significantly from one society to another. In some cultures, there is a greater emphasis on rigid gender roles and expectations, while in others there is more flexibility and fluidity. This can make it difficult to understand and define gender in a way that is applicable across different cultures.
Furthermore, the relationship between sex and gender is complex and can be influenced by a variety of biological, social, and environmental factors. For example, an individual's gender identity may not necessarily align with the sex they were assigned at birth, and this can lead to further confusion about the difference between the two concepts.
Overall, the ongoing confusion about the difference between sex and gender may be due to a variety of factors, including the way the terms are used, the complexity of the relationship between the two, and the cultural and societal variations in how gender is understood and expressed.
Some recent cases that demonstrate the growing divide on issues of gender and sex.
- Pro-family group pushes back against 'pregnant man' emoji - The American Family Association is pushing back against a recent instance of what it is calling "corporate cultural indoctrination."
- Meet the women working to overturn Roe v. Wade and restrict abortions across America - The reality is that women are spearheading the reversal of Roe v. Wade and championing abortion restrictions in the states.
- Women against Abortion: Inside the Largest Moral Reform Movement of the Twentieth Century - Women from remarkably diverse religious, social, and political backgrounds made up the rank-and-file of the American antiabortion movement.
- Public opinion on abortion in the US, 1995-2022 - While public support for legal abortion has fluctuated some in two decades of polling, it has remained relatively stable over the past several years. Currently, 61% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal in all or most cases.
- For women, despair and joy as overturning of Roe appears imminent - Suzanne Abdalla, who works for a construction company in Michigan, said she was overcome with relief and a burst of energy. “It has been hard to live in a world where ending human lives is considered a good solution to women’s problems,” said Abdalla, 48.
- Who Is the Woman Behind the Case Challenging Roe v. Wade? - Lynn Fitch, Mississippi’s first female attorney general, is the face of the Supreme Court abortion case poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, which began with oral arguments on Wednesday. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, concerns a Mississippi ban on all abortions after 15 weeks.
