ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD
Members Only
lock close icon

Sex, Gender and Identity for Dummies This Pride Month

Pride Month is going on, and if you need help understanding sexuality, we’ve got you covered.

Published
Gender
2 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

Pride Month is going on, and if you do not know what to feel about it and how to celebrate, we got you covered. By knowing the basic difference between Sex, Gender and Identity, you’ll be able to better understand the complexities of human sexuality, and maybe won’t say things like “Man up!” or maybe “Girls don’t shout in house” to anyone (and good if you already don’t!).

Pride Month is going on, and if you need help understanding sexuality, we’ve got you covered.
LGBTQ+ Flag “Rainbow”.
(Photo: IANS)

PS: We ain’t discussing sexuality in this article (maybe later) but for now, just trying to understand the basic difference between SEX, GENDER and GENDER IDENTITY.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Let’s Understand Sex (Often Misconstrued as Gender!)

Pride Month is going on, and if you need help understanding sexuality, we’ve got you covered.
Sex is biological identity of an individual based off the parts s/he possess.
(Photo: iStock)

Sex is biological identity that a person is born with. It is the biological reality one is born with. There are three sexes: MALE & FEMALE and INTERSEX!

Sex is determined by biological organs one is born with – the genitals, also known as “private parts”, and the chromosomes you have. Females have a vagina and XX chromosomes, while males have a penis and testicles, and XY chromosomes.

If someone’s genitals or chromosomes do not clearly match either of these, the person is called INTERSEX.

Now, Gender

Pride Month is going on, and if you need help understanding sexuality, we’ve got you covered.
Understanding Gender.
(Picture Courtesy: John Paul Derrryberry)

Gender is a person’s social identity. It is what society labels you, based on things like appearance, clothing, and behaviour – where you’re assumed to be a girl or woman based on certain appearances and behaviours, and assumed to be a boy or man based on certain other (different) behaviours.

Lastly, Gender Identity

Pride Month is going on, and if you need help understanding sexuality, we’ve got you covered.
Understanding Gender Identity
(Picture Courtesy: Wirral Safeguarding)

While gender is what society expects you to be, gender identity is what you want to be! Your clothing, behaviour and appearance may not ‘match’ the gender society assumes you are.

Some people choose to be masculine female, feminine male, gender fluid, queer gender and so on! All of which is perfectly fine and normal.

When someone’s sex, gender, and identity matches, s/he is called cis gender, which is the norm.

So to sum up:

1. Sex is female, male, and intersex.

2. Gender is girl or woman, and boy or man.

3. Gender identity is whatever you feel like. You, by yourself!

Hope this helps. :)

Happy Pride Month!

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

0

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from gender

Topics:  Sex   LGBT   Gender 

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×