What’s the difference between sex and gender?

Leiran Gibson intersex, trans+ and non-binary

Understanding the difference between sex and gender identity can feel complicated. Here is our (very) basic introduction

Have you ever wondered about the difference between sex and gender? They‘re two very different things, but lots of us often get them mixed up or find it confusing. There are lots of different terms that relate to sex and gender, but we want this article to be an easy-to-understand introduction to this question.

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What is sex?

For once, we’re not talking about intercourse or sexual intimacy! (Instead, you can find lots of information about that here.) When a baby’s born, a healthcare professional assigns a biological ‘sex’, typically by looking at the baby’s external genitals. These sexes are:

Male: If a baby has a penis and testicles, they’re recorded as being male.

Female: If a baby has a vulva and vagina, they’re recorded as being female.

Intersex: Some people are born with reproductive organs and/or genitals that don’t fall into the boxes of ‘male’ or ‘female’. Being intersex is completely normal and we have lots more information here. (Note: some people prefer the term differences in sex development (DSD) instead of intersex).

What is gender?

Our understanding of gender has evolved so much in the past decade. We know now that biological sex isn’t just different to gender identity, it also doesn’t determine someone’s gender identity. But, unfortunately, we still live in a society with a healthcare system that labels people’s gender, based on their biological sex. This is why some people come out as trans and/or non-binary later in life, when they have a better understanding of their own gender identity.

Basically, just because someone is assigned male at birth once they’re born, based on their biological sex (having a penis and testicles), it doesn’t mean their gender identity will ‘align’ with this and they’ll be a boy. Having a penis and testicles doesn’t dictate their gender identity.

Defining ‘gender’ is tricky – it can mean so many things! It’s a feeling inside us, a part of our identity, and it can also describe how we see ourselves. We may express our gender through the clothes we wear, our haircut, or by wearing make-up. It’s also worth saying that although we might express our gender identity through our physical appearance, not everyone expresses gender this way and the only way of truly knowing someone’s gender is if they tell you.

People identify with gender in a way that is personal and unique to them, and not everyone has a gender identity. Some people have a very strong gender identity, some don’t identify with any gender at all, others see their gender as fluid. It all depends on who you are. There is no one right or wrong way to identify with gender.

What are the different types of gender?

There are a variety of terms that people use to identify their gender, which include:

Cisgender: Cisgender (or ‘cis’) is a term used to describe someone whose sex they were given at birth matches the gender they identify as. For example, a cis man is someone who was born with a penis, recorded as male at birth, and identifies as a man.

Transgender: Transgender (or ‘trans’) is a term used to describe someone whose gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a trans man could be someone who is born with a vulva, assigned female at birth, and identifies as a man.

Non-binary: Non-binary (or ‘enby’) is a term used to describe someone whose gender identity isn’t male or female. For example, a non-binary person could be someone who is born with a penis, assigned male at birth, and who doesn’t identify as male or female. There are lots of labels within the ‘non-binary’ umbrella, like genderqueer and genderfluid.

Gender is not just about being one way or the other – it’s a spectrum. This can feel a bit confusing when a lot of us have grown up thinking of gender as male or female. But it can also be exciting to understand that there’s so much more to us complex humans. Don’t worry if you’re still feeling confused. The most important thing when talking about sex and gender is to always be respectful of a person’s identity.