Sex vs. Gender

spacepotatoes · February 2014

Since some people have been asking about this recently, I thought of The Bump when I saw this article today:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/facebook-gender_n_4782477.html

It gives a little more insight into the "between the legs" vs. "between the ears" idea. There is also this Maclean's article from not too long ago, which I forgot to post at the time:

https://www2.macleans.ca/2014/01/13/what-happens-when-your-son-tells-you-hes-really-a-girl/

In a nutshell: yes, people use the terms sex and gender interchangeably but they do represent different things and "gender" can be pretty loaded.

sopsongbird · February 2014

I have many friends who are homosexual, have gone through surgery, and other instances and it is nice to read that steps are being taken to provide equality in all instances, not just marriage. Thank you for posting these articles.

jenb_99 · February 2014

The primary dictionary and medical definitions are nearly identical, though -- anatomical -- and the social definitions don't apply universally. Mostly in wealthier English-speaking countries, really. It's not incorrect or even insensitive to use them interchangeably; some [groups of] people just perceive it that way.

spacepotatoes · February 2014

jenb_99 said:

The primary dictionary and medical definitions are nearly identical, though -- anatomical -- and the social definitions don't apply universally. Mostly in wealthier English-speaking countries, really. It's not incorrect or even insensitive to use them interchangeably; some [groups of] people just perceive it that way.

I don't tend to get offended when people use the terms interchangeably but I do try to use them according to the above. Language is always evolving and I think this is a case of the meanings of the words evolving to line up with our own awareness of gender issues.

My intention in posting this was more of an "FYI - here's why we point out the difference between these words", not to scold anyone.

Kate070 · February 2014

Thanks for sharing this

I didn't think you sounded like you were scolding anyone, and it's information that I think is valuable to anyone living in a diverse society (hint: that's really everyone).

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Sex vs. Gender

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