PSA: Difference between sex and gender.

firstcomeslove2013

Hey all! Its been a while since we've had a discussion like this on the board and I wanted to take a minute to discuss something that makes my stomach upset every time I see it mentioned. There is a difference between the sex of a person and the gender of a person. The sex of a person is something they are born with. So those born to the male sex would have a penis and the female sex would have a vagina. Gender is the characteristics that a society, a person, or a culture sees as masculine or feminine.

I know we have people of all kinds in this group. There may be people in this group that identify as queer, transexual, intersexed or anywhere on the spectrum. It makes my stomach hurt a little to hear people say they are going to find out the gender of their child when that isn't possible until that child can grow up and discover their own gender.

This has been a public service announcement.

esbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and allies. - See more at: https://www.worldpridetoronto.com/festival/worldpride-2014#sthash.e5EqrMMf.dpuf

esbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and allies. - See more at: https://www.worldpridetoronto.com/festival/worldpride-2014#sthash.e5EqrMMf.dpuf

esbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and allies. - See more at: https://www.worldpridetoronto.com/festival/worldpride-2014#sthash.e5EqrMMf.dpuf

esbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and allies. - See more at: https://www.worldpridetoronto.com/festival/worldpride-2014#sthash.e5EqrMMf.dpuf

esbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirited, and allies. - See more at: https://www.worldpridetoronto.com/festival/worldpride-2014#sthash.e5EqrMMf.dpuf

healz413

I agree. And I would add that, of course, talking about the sex of the child isn't perfect either because people can change their sexes and/or determine that they were assigned the wrong sex at birth. Now, I don't expect everyone to embrace my queer-theory language of "assigned sex at birth" or "predicted assigned sex at birth". Probably using "sex" instead of "gender" is enough. But I did want to just add that since we are having this convo.

2MamazInSeattle

Whoops. (Raises hand). I do that. Maybe that's what spawned your PSA! ">

I will say sex from now on! I think it's hard for me to associate the word sex with my sparkling little newborn so I opt for gender because it sounds a little less...intense? adult? I dunno. Anyhoo, I stand corrected!! Thanks for the education .

I cannot wait to find out the SEX of our baby! See, I am practicing!

firstcomeslove2013

That's what a lot of people think and sometimes hearing "gender, gender, gender" can make those with different identities feel frustrated and secluded. Thanks for being understanding!

KH826

So I have definitely made an effort to say sex, I think the only time I said gender was when noting that we would not be doing a "gender reveal" and I put it quotes! HAHA - As @ball.and.chain aptly noted about this saying "sex reveal" just does not sound right! At any rate, I note the difference, and I hope that I am not an offender of this. I try not to be.

SweetPea0307

Thanks for the reminder! I knew this already, but I don't think I'm great about using the right word in practice.  It's hard to break the habit after so many years of using gender and sex interchangeably.