Different terms are regularly used in theories of sexuality and gender, for example sex, gender, gender identity, gender expressions, gender roles, and sexual oreintation. Because there are so many terms it’s important to be clear about the meanings of such terms to understand the concepts. So let’s break them down!

The World Health Organization summarizes sex as “the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc.” 

The European Institute for gender equality defines gender in the same way but adds that these different biological characteristics are “not mutually exclusive, as there are individuals who possess both, but these characteristics tend to differentiate humans as females or males.” Or in other words, these biological characteristics such as certain genitalia or chromosomes etc., are not exclusive to one gender or sex. We will explain this further on the next few slides

Sexual Orientation refers to a person’s attraction to others

Gender is a controversial term and a “heavy” word; politicians and public figures often use it with negative connotations in reference to phrases like the “gender police” or ideologies that threaten the kids etc. These are some examples of how gender can be misunderstood by the public and used in a harmful manner.

Gender, as defined by the WHO, is “the socially constructed characteristics of women and men, girls and boys – such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men.” These roles and relationships vary from society to society in many times change over time.

Gender Identity refers to one’s own personal experience of gender and how as an individual you conceptualize your gender 

Finally Gender expression refers to the ways in which an individual may carry out their preferred gender identity; this can be anything from preferred name or pronouns to clothes, hair, mannerisms, and etc.