Student Name
Instructor
Course
Anthropology: Sex and Gender
Date
Although it is difficult to differentiate sex and gender, sociologists and other social scientists view them as conceptually distinct (Butler-Henderson et al. 4). Sex refers to the physiological or physical differences between females and males, including both primary and secondary characteristics. On the other hand, gender refers to personal traits, behaviors, and social position attributes for males or females in the society. Sex is determined by biology and does not always correspond to gender. Therefore, the terms gender and sex are not interchangeable. For example, a baby born with female genitalia is identified as a female, but when the baby grows, she may posit masculine aspects of her culture.
The dichotomous outlook of gender is not universal but specific to several cultures. In various societies, gender is viewed as fluid, while others do not (Hyde et al. 171). Anthropologists use the term “berdache” to describe individuals who permanently or occasioned dress up and live like a different gender. This practice is evidently among various Native American Tribes. For example, the Samoan culture accepts “Fa’afafine” that the Samoans refer to as a “third Gender.” However, individuals from other cultures may describe them as homosexual because of their varied sexual life.
As we grow, we tend to learn much about how to behave from those around us. During this socialization process, we get introduced specific gender roles linked to our biological sex. It changes the relationship between gender and sex since it allows some level of flexibility in acting out of gender roles. Moreover, the awareness of intersex conditions can substantially the view of sex and gender as dichotomy in cultures. This is because the world we live in is a continuum in every aspect. An individual usually understands it between middle childhood and early adolescence (Lloyd & Galupo 271).
References
Butler-Henderson, Kerryn, et al. “Diverse gender, sex, and sexuality: Data collection and population health.” HIM-Interchange 8.2 (2018): 4-8.
Hyde, Janet Shibley, et al. “The future of sex and gender in psychology: Five challenges to the gender binary.” American Psychologist 74.2 (2019): 171.
Lloyd, Allison E., and M. Paz Galupo. “What people with normative identities believe about sex, gender, and sexual orientation.” Psychology & Sexuality 10.3 (2019): 269-280.