Sex, Gender or Identity?
During the past few years, there has been an explosion of research regarding sex, gender and sexuality. Researchers and scientists have been debating each other in regards to what these terms mean, the implications these definitions have for individuals and most importantly if the terms are caused by nature or nurture. No consensus has been reached and it will probably be years before one is reached, if ever. One of the more important debates currently happening is if you are born with your sexuality predetermined or if it is given to you by society. There are many arguments made for both side. However, you cannot discuss sexuality without also discussing gender and sex because the three are so intricately linked one into the other. Scientists and researchers also debate over whether sex and gender are inborn or societal, so one must first clarify these terms before attempting to clarify sexuality. It is of my opinion that sex is genetically funded while gender is socially constructed. To me it is like an equation: sex is nature + gender is social = sexuality which is a mixture of both. Sexuality is half nature and half nurture.
The first step towards discussing sexuality is taken by clarifying what is meant by sex and why it is nature and not nurture that determines sex. Many people us the terms sex, sexuality and gender interchangeably, however they each have their own general definitions and each researcher has their own more specific definition of each term. Adie Nelson (2010) in her book, “Gender in Canada”, describes sex as referring “to the condition of being male or female, as identified from a biological standpoint” (p. 23). Generally, when a child is born the doctor will examine the external genitals to determine the sex of the child. However, when a child is born with ambiguous genitals, the doctors must look at other factors to determine the sex. The doctor does not look at how feminine or masculine the child appears to be, instead they will look
The first step towards discussing sexuality is taken by clarifying what is meant by sex and why it is nature and not nurture that determines sex. Many people us the terms sex, sexuality and gender interchangeably, however they each have their own general definitions and each researcher has their own more specific definition of each term. Adie Nelson (2010) in her book, “Gender in Canada”, describes sex as referring “to the condition of being male or female, as identified from a biological standpoint” (p. 23). Generally, when a child is born the doctor will examine the external genitals to determine the sex of the child. However, when a child is born with ambiguous genitals, the doctors must look at other factors to determine the sex. The doctor does not look at how feminine or masculine the child appears to be, instead they will look
References: Fausto-Sterling, A. (2009). Dueling Dualisms. Sex, Gender, and Sexuality: The New Basics, an Anthology (pp. 6-21). Oxford University Press. Nelson, A. (2010). The Social Construction of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality. Gender in Canada (pp. 1-15). Nelson, A. (2010). Biological, Psychological, and Social-Psychological Perspectives. Gender in Canada (pp. 38-69). Toronto: Pearson. Religion Facts. (n.d.). Homosexuality and the Ancient Greeks. Religion Facts. Retrieved from http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/ancient_greeks.htm Seidman, S. (2009). Theoretical Perspectives. Introducing the New Sexuality Studies: Original Essays and Interviews (pp. 3-13). Routledge. Siltanen J. & Doucet, A. (2008). Against Essentializing and Dichotomizing Sex. Gender Relations in Canada: Intersectionality and Beyond (pp. 52-57). Oxford University Press.