The Significance of Sex--by Angela Woltermann

Sex and gender are often confused and used interchangeably, when in reality, there is a very significant difference between the two. When asked, a lot of people seem to believe gender is the same as sex. While gender is something one can identify as, sex is something more physical or biological. For example, one can have or be born with a penis but still identify as a woman. It’s important to keep in mind that sex is defined by physical characteristics, not by identity. While respecting gender is very essential (absolutely and positively essential), it’s also necessary to pay respect to sex.  In the medical field, labeling an individual with their biological sex and treating them based on that must be done for the sake of what kinds of things follow genetics in that sex. That same woman described before may identify as a woman, but she may still be at risk for male diseases, such as prostate and/or testicular cancers.

The actual characteristics of sex are what a lot of people think of when the topic is brought up, namely the physical traits that are commonly associated with each. A biological female tends to have larger breasts than males, as well as a vagina, ovum, and a uterus. Biological males have penises and testes, as well as a tendency to have more body and/or facial hair. Intersex may have both a penis and a vagina, or may physically resemble a male, but have ovum or a uterus, or they may appear female except for a lack of ovum. In short, intersex may have a variety or lack of features from both males and females.

Sex also seems to be where some stereotypes of gender come from. Women tend to be expected to be hairless, while having facial hair or hairy limbs is expected of men. How often do you hear a male considered “a man” because he has to shave his face? And why is it that people think this way? Why are women often excluded from something like “No-Shave November”? Is it because body hair is seen most often on men? Men do tend to have much more of it than women, but women still have body hair regardless. I wonder if perhaps these stereotypes originate from constant observation. Men sporting facial hair are common, and are more likely to take part in shaving their face than women, since women are less likely to develop large quantities of facial hair. Does that mean they don’t? No. It’s just observation made by society.

Moore, Crystal. “The Role of Sex and Gender in Sexual History.” Class lecture, The History of Sexuality in America from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, January 14^th, 2014.