1. Concepts & Themes

2. What do these mean? Sex of a person Gender of a person Gender identity
Sexual identity
*Give examples/ characteristics of each

3. What is the Sex of a Person?
Defining biological & physiological characteristics
Primary
Secondary
Male, female
Intersex
Adrenogenital syndrome (AGS)
~ 1/10,000 born intersex
‘Syndrome’???
Issues?
Intersex support groups, advocates
???

4. What is Gender? Socially constructed binary
-Male (sex) = masculine (gender) Female (sex) = feminine (gender)
Role: Doctor or nurse?
Behavior: Wear pants or a skirt?
Activities: Play with trucks or dolls?
Attribute: Assertive or submissive?

5. Gender (cont.) Consequence? Society dictates gender norms
Expected to adopt gender norms that match biological sex
Expected to accept the norms that match sex/gender
Society dictates gender norms
Public: Economic, political, educational, religious, communal, etc.
Domestic: Familial
Society dictates acceptable relationships
Heterosexual is the norm = what is ‘right’

6. Gender & Identity One’s defined perception of their gender
Issue: May contradict gender norms
Androgynous, pangender
Both traits- physical and/or identity
Transgender
Sex/gender don’t match
Change to match gender identity
Third gender recognition
NZ, Australia, India, Nepal as legal status issue

7. What is Sexual Identity?
One’s defined sexual orientation/ partner preference
Heterosexual
Homosexual (gay, lesbian)
Try to fit into hetero-norms
Bisexual
Pansexual
Transgender is about gender identity
Doesn’t define sexual orientation

8. Labels Why do we use labels? Easier to communicate
Easier to process information
Evolves out of social norms
Problems?
Creates the ‘other’

9. Main Themes Basis for sex & gender inequality Challenging these norms
Historical events & influences
Institutions & organizations
Socialization
Private property
Challenging these norms
Activism, empowerment
Women’s, intersex, transgender rights as human rts.
Variables to consider
Multiculturalism
Intersectionality
Contextualizing issues and activism
Ethnocentrism