Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: Key Concepts

Defining Key Terms

• Sex: Refers to biological science, a non-negotiable trait defined by biological characteristics. It is categorized as male, female, or intersex depending on biological influences.

• Gender: In psychology, gender refers to acknowledging masculine or feminine characteristics, which are displayed through various behaviors and expressions.

• Sexuality: Briefly mentioned as a topic for future discussion; not covered in detail in this session.

Biological Sex: Chromosomes and Intersex

• Chromosomal Determination: Biological sex is determined at conception.

  • Each person receives $23$ chromosomes from the mother and $23$ from the father, making a total of $46$ chromosomes arranged in $23$ pairs.

  • The first $22$ pairs of chromosomes (autosomes) determine non-sexual characteristics such as eye color, hair type, height, intelligence, and personality.

  • The $23^{rd}$ chromosome pair is the sex chromosome.

    • The mother always contributes an X chromosome.

    • The father contributes either an X or a Y chromosome.

    • If the father contributes an X, the result is XX (female).

    • If the father contributes a Y, the result is XY (male).

• Intersex Definition: From a strictly biological perspective, intersex refers to a condition at birth where chromosomal development has gone abnormally, resulting in unclear or ambiguous sexual features (e.g., not clearly having a penis or a vagina).

  • This biological condition represents a very small percentage of the population, specifically $.018\%$ as referenced by the National Institution of Health.

  • It is distinct from gender fluidity or non-binary gender identities, which are self-proclaimed psychological and social identities.

Gender: Masculinity and Femininity

• A Psychological Concept: Gender acknowledges an individual's display of masculine or feminine characteristics, which can vary based on hormonal influences and personal expression.

• Hormonal Influences: Biological sex influences gender expression through hormones.

  • Testosterone: More dominant in males, tends to be associated with aggression and combative characteristics.

  • Estrogen: More dominant in females, tends to be associated with being softer, relationally inclined, and nurturing.

• Gender Continuum: Individuals exist on a continuum of masculine and feminine expressions.

  • A person's position on this continuum (e.g., an aggressive woman or a nurturing man) does not change their underlying biological sex (XX or XY).

  • Androgynous: A term for individuals who exhibit a blend of both masculine and feminine characteristics, often described as being in the middle of the continuum. As people age, there is a natural tendency for individuals to become more androgynous (men become softer, women become firmer).

• Giftedness and Expression: There is nothing inherently