There is a lot more to being male & female or any gender than the sex we are assigned (given) at birth. Some of us find our gender does not align with sex and this is okay.
Sex
Sex is a label that you are given by a doctor based on the genitals you’re born with plus the chromosomes & hormones you have. It goes on your birth certificate.
Some people's anatomy does not fit the typical definitions of male or female – they may be described as intersex, which I will talk about further down the line.
Sex is not to be confused with Sexuality – this is who you are attracted to.
Gender & Gender Identity
Gender is much more complex. It’s a social expectation from society about our behaviours, characteristics and thoughts. Each culture has varied expectations of how our genders should behave (gender roles). For example, ‘boys shouldn’t wear nail varnish and dresses‘. This can be the cause of toxic masculinity.
Gender identity is how you feel inside and how you express your gender through clothing, behaviour and personal appearance. It’s a feeling that begins very early on in life.
It’s easy to confuse sex and gender, so just remember that biological or assigned sex is about biology, anatomy, and chromosomes. Gender is society’s set of expectations, standards, and characteristics about how men and women are supposed to act.