Differentiate between sex and gender, define sexual orientation, and understand gender identity

The terms “sex” and “gender” refer to two different identifiers. Sex denotes biological characteristics differentiating males and females, while gender denotes social and cultural characteristics of masculine and feminine behavior. As you’ll read in this section, sex and gender are not always synchronous.

What you’ll learn to do:

• Define and differentiate between sex and gender
• Define sexual orientation and understand the role of homophobia and heterosexism in society
• Define and discuss what is meant by gender identity; differentiate between transgender, transsexual, and homosexual identities

Learning Activities

The learning activities for this section include:

• Reading: Sex and Gender
• Reading: Sexual Orientation
• Reading: Gender Identity
• Self-Check: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity