The Difference Between Sex And Gender Essay, Research Paper
In today’s society sex and gender seem
to have two separate connotative meanings. Sex is a more scientific term
that explains physical traits and sexual preferences. Gender carries a
more social tone. Meaning that it refers to the different clothing, activities,
career choices, and positions people hold in society. A person’s social
status helps separate or classify the two sexes.
Sex is the total sum of physical characteristics
that distinguish males and females from each other. The most distinctive
difference in characteristics is that man and women have different reproductive
organs. This is pretty obvious and so are other traits like facial hair,
deep voices, and muscular builds. It is not often that you see a six foot
five inch bearded lady who sounds like Barry White walking around. Women
are smaller and feminine. They normally walk with a switch and speak with
soft voices. These descriptions may not apply to all men and women but
they are pretty good examples of what to look for if confused.
That brings me to my other definition of
sex. Sex is also known as the preference of sexual partner or mate that
one desires. A person’s preference determines their sexual identity. There
are three types of preferences. First there are heterosexual people who
like people of the opposite sex. There are homosexual people who prefer
partners of the same sex. And then there are bisexual people who like to
have partners who are either male or female.
The environments that some people are raised
in contribute to confusion about their sexual identity. Some people say
that these preferences were present the day that they were born. I feel
that it is one’s own choice what preference they choose. No person is born
straight or gay. Certain traits may get mixed up when dealing with people
who like to cross dress. Those are people who like to dress like the opposite
sex. Some people get sex change operations and become transsexuals. There
are even people who are born with both a male organ and female organs.
They are called hermaphrodites. I feel sorry for them because they didn’t
ask to be born with such a deformity.
Gender consists of social classifications
that help determine sex. With the rapid changes in gender equality it is
not as easy to separate sex by what a person does for a living. What position
they hold in society or a household is not a good indication either. Years
ago I could have said that if a person is a police officer, a soldier,
a fireman, a politician, a lawyer, a doctor or any type of highly paid
professional than that person must be a man. Back then this would have
been a pretty good hypothesis. The father was the man of the house. The
minister was always male and there was no such thing as women in sports.
I could have probably also said that if
a person was a secretary, a grade school teacher, a receptionist, a nurse,
a maid, or a homemaker then that person must be a woman. People in the
female group or gender worked lower paying less demanding jobs because
It was believed that a woman could not handle the pressures that a “man’s
job’ required.
With the absence of the father figure in
many American homes women have taken over as head of the house. They juggle
home life and work to keep their families together so that they can properly
raise their children.
Women have broken the gender barrier in
almost every sport except for football and hockey. Some women’s sports
are pretty interesting to watch. I like to look at women’s track, basketball,
and boxing every now and then. Women have proven themselves as good athletes.
I notice that women have gained prominent
positions in society. Women like Rosa Parks and Hilary Clinton are highly
respected figures. There are women in almost every professional field.
There are women politicians, lawyers, doctors, ministers, etc.
Gender is a tricky term to define. I think
that gender should be left up to people to interpret for themselves. The
term gender is a little sexist because it associates sex with social status.
As for me I think that gender is a little out dated. Sex is a sufficient
enough classification to separate men, women, and the people who are confused
about what they are.