Handout Sex and Gender Sex is the biological difference between men and women based on their sexual organs. Males and females have different traits, roles and behaviour patterns which have been created by society and culture. These are not biologically created but artificially created by society based on perceptions, ideas and attitudes on what a woman should be and what a man should be. The difference between sex and gender is as follows: Universal Sex Gender Not universal Natural creation Not a natural creation Biological A social, cultural creation Common to all different human races, Changes according to ethnicity, ethnicities, castes and nationalities nationality and class Do not change / are firm / static Change over time and from place to place The differences carry a similar value The differences carry different values The terms sex and gender are often taken by the society as terms with equal meaning. But it is incorrect. Sex means the human difference determined at birth. Biologically all human beings are both with this difference. Not only human but animals and sometimes even plants belong to these two categories. Men and women are born to the world with inherent physical differences. No living being has the ability to decide this phenomenon prior to their birth. Even though the sexes can be changed with the advancement of the modern medical science in rare instances it is a very complex process. Owing to this difference of sex between men and women, changes occur in their bodies, organs, their functions, physical development, voice and etc. This is a natural biological change which is common to the entire world. All human beings irrespective of differences of complexion, race, religion and caste do experience this difference. Based on this difference of sex the cultures have, since ancient time designed different identities, characteristics, behaviours, roles and even professions. That different socio-cultural state is known as gender. This is not something given by the nature but designed by the society. Gender is common to all women at all times. However, they undergo changes on differences of complexion, community, race, caste, professional class. There are also instances of gender taking different forms in the face of socio-economic and political differences. 23