What is the difference between sex and gender?

‘Sex’ : our biological sexual characteristics, which are the external genitals, internal reproductive organs, chromosomes and hormones.

Although all these things contribute to someone’s sex, people are defined as male or female as soon as they are born, based on observation of their external genitals. 

• If someone is born with a penis and testicles, they are recorded as being male. This is sometimes referred to as ‘AMAB’ (Assigned Male at Birth).

• If someone is born with a vulva and vagina, they are recorded as being female. This is sometimes referred to as ‘AFAB’ (Assigned Female at Birth).

• Some babies are born with external genitalia that don’t fit with the traditional definition of male or female. This may mean that the baby has one of a group of conditions called ‘differences or variations in sex development (VSD)’ or ‘variations in sex characteristics (VSC)’. Some people with VSDs/VSCs use the word ‘intersex’. It’s also common that someone may not realise they have VSDs/VSCs until they reach puberty or want to get pregnant.

Sex has historically been understood as just two categories: male and female. But it doesn’t always fit into the two neat categories and many people think of sex instead as being on a spectrum, with people being more or less male or female.

The word gender is sometimes used to refer to how a person sees or feels about themselves. It describes the personal sense of feeling or knowing that you are a man or woman or non-binary person. This personal experience of gender is also referred to as gender identity.  

The word gender can also be used to refer to a collection of ideas about human behaviour, actions and roles in relation to ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’.

Different societies often have very specific ideas about how men and women should behave, look or dress. One way we can understand gender is that it’s something that society ‘constructs.’ This means that the culture of a particular community develops ideas over time about what is a ‘natural’ or ‘normal’ way for men and women to think, feel, look or behave.

Gender stereotypes

Gender stereotypes: assumptions about what people ‘should’ do or look like based on society’s ideas of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ behaviour.

When ideas and expectations about gender are applied in ways which are strict or inflexible, they can limit people’s opportunities and choices, can damage people’s confidence and relationships and lead to discrimination and prejudice.

What is a stereotype?
A stereotype is a widely held and overly simplified idea of how a person should behave, what they should be good or bad at, what they should be interested in, how they should look or what you can expect from them.

Stereotypes exist around all types of people and can affect someone because of their nationality, age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexuality, gender, where they live and many other factors. Gender stereotypes affect us all every day, often in harmful ways.

Masculinity: A set of ideas and behaviours that are associated with men due to a society’s culture. 
Femininity: A set of ideas and behaviours that are associated with women due to a society’s culture.

Many children and adults don’t conform to the gender stereotypes expected of them, simply because they don’t happen to enjoy the clothes, hobbies, interests and professions, behaviours or communication styles expected of their gender.

Gender expression

Gender expression describes the outward ways that people may choose to express aspects of their gender. This may include things like clothing and hairstyles, and behaviour and mannerisms. While many of these things are associated with gender stereotypes, people can choose to express themselves however they wish, and gender expression doesn’t have to ‘match’ gender identity. People can choose forms of gender expression that are ‘masculine’, ‘feminine’, both or neither.