10 - Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

Sexualization

the act or processes whereby an individual or group is seen as sexual in nature or persons become aware of their sexuality

Sex

the biological and anatomical differences between females and males

Primary sex characteristics

the genitalia used in the reproductive process

Secondary sex characteristics

the physical traits (other than reproductive organs) that identify an individual’s sex

Intersex person

an individual who is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not correspond to the typical definitions of male or female; in other words, the person’s sexual differentiation is ambiguous

Transgender person

an individual whose gender identity (self identification as woman, man, neither, or both) does not match the person’s assigned sex (identification by others as male, female, or intersex based on physical/genetic sex)

Crossdresser

a male who dresses as a woman or a female who dresses as a man but does not alter his or her genitalia

Sexual orientation

an individual’s preference for emotional-sexual relationships with members of the different sex (heterosexuality, the same sex (homosexuality), or both (bisexuality)

Homophobia

extreme prejudice and sometimes discriminatory actions directed at gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender persons, and others who are perceived as not being heterosexual

Gender

the culturally and socially constructed differences between females and males found in the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with “femininity” and “masculinity”

Gender role

the attitudes, behavior, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for each sex and that are learned through the socialization process

Gender identity

a person’s perception of the self as female or male

Body consciousness

how a person perceives and feels about his or her body

Sexism

the subordination of one sex, usually female, based on the assumed superiority of the other sex

Patriarchy

a hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by women

Matriarchy

a hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by women

Gender bias

behavior that shows favoritism toward one gender over the other

Pay gap

the disparity between women’s and men’s earnings

Comparable worth

(or pay equity) the belief that wages ought to reflect the worth of a job, not the gender or race of the worker

Feminism

the belief that men and women are equal and should be valued equally and have equal rights