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Do Sex and Gender Have Separate Identities?
Gonzalo R Quintana1, James G Pfaus2,3
1Departamento de Psicología y Filosofía, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Arica y Parinacota, Chile.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|August 6, 2024
Summary
Biological sex is largely binary, based on genetics and anatomy, while gender is a sociocultural construct with diverse expressions. This review clarifies their distinctions and interactions for scientific and societal understanding.
Area of Science:
- Biological Sciences
- Sociocultural Studies
Background:
- The conflation of biological sex and gender identity causes significant scientific and legal confusion.
- Understanding the distinctions is crucial for medicine, legislation, and individual well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the differences and interactions between sex and gender across multiple levels of analysis.
- To propose a framework for distinguishing sex and gender while acknowledging their interplay.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature across genetic, anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and sociocultural domains.
- Analysis of the implications and interactions of sex and gender at various levels.
Main Results:
- Sex is presented as a largely binary biological reality determined by genes, chromosomes, anatomy, and physiology.
- Gender is defined as a sociocultural construct with diverse expressions, often, but not always, aligning with biological sex.
Conclusions:
- Advocates for a clear delimitation between sex and gender, recognizing gender diversity as the default.
- Proposes a coexistence model where biological sex and sociocultural gender are distinct yet interactive concepts.
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