Dear Counselor, what is the difference between sex and gender?
Submitted by Counselor at SchoolNet on 14th June, 2009
Sex = male and female
Gender = masculine and feminine
Sex describes the biological differences between man and women.
Only females have organs and hormones in their bodies that enable them to menstruate, get pregnant, give birth to children and breastfeed. Only males have organs that produce sperms and make women pregnant. The sex differences are the work of nature and don’t change from society/culture to society/culture.
Gender on the other hand describes the differences in the way that (men and boys) and (women and girls) are expected to behave; their way of dressing, the work they do, the family responsibilities, their status , the way they speak, etc.
Masculine = what society expects of men and boys.
Feminine = what society expects of women and girls.
What is considered masculine or feminine may differ from society/culture to society/culture. Gender role refers to the characteristics and behaviours that different cultures attribute to the sexes.
In Uganda, men are expected to greet while standing, be courageous, pay dowry and financially support the family with the responsibility for school fees lying mainly on the men. Women are expected to greet while kneeling, care for the sick, cook food and do all the house cores and to be submissive.
In some societies, it is women who pay dowry and don’t even kneel when greeting.
“Real man “ = male sex + masculine social role
“Real woman” = female + feminine social role