Group items tagged

The terms "gender" and "sex" are interchangeable for many people. This idea has become so common, particularly in western societies, that it is rarely questioned. Nevertheless biological sex and gender are different; gender is not inherently connected to one's physical anatomy. Sex is biological and includes physical attributes such as sex chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, internal reproductive structures, and external genitalia. At birth, it is used to identify individuals as male or female. Gender on the other hand is more complex. Along with one's physical traits it also entails what one's internal sense of self, whether it be male, female, both or neither as well as one's outward presentations and behaviors related to that perception. This relates to the image due to categorization of gays and lesbians. Their gender is based on the perception of themselves, not their biological sex.

According to the World Health Organization, "Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women." Behavior is never either nature or nurture. It is always a very complex interweaving of both. Because behavior is always an interaction of nature and nurture, socialization can modify even significant sex differences.

This is part of "Child Psychology, A Contemporary Viewpoint" which discusses gender-role standards and stereotypes, gender differences in development, biological factors in gender differences, the influence of the family on gender typing, and extrafamilial influences on gender roles.

This website is covering child psychology and children's development related to gender. This page discusses gender roles, stereotypes, and differences. Also mentioned briefly is that there is no evidence of differed gender roles if boys and girls raised by gays and lesbians. Other influences on gender roles, including television and school is discussed. Also mentioned is the fact that most people, especially children are actually to various degrees both masculine and feminine, not completely one or the other.