Difference Between Sex and Gender

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Amongst the many popular misconceptions in today’s society, the in depth differences between sex and gender has grown to be one that is discussed extensively by psychologists and sociologists too. Sex in itself is a more scientific term that explains the innate physical attributes of an individual. On the other hand gender carries a more social tone. Meaning, that it refers to the different clothing, activities, career choices, and positions people hold in society. This essay aims to highlight some of the key differential aspects between these two concepts; while the term sex has been well defined over the years, we learn how the topic of gender managed to rake up an in-depth study as well as gain its own significance in society.

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(Reeves & Baden, 2000)

Furthermore, in more recent time research has come to prove and shed light to the fact that traits that belong to the male and female genders are linked biologically as well, in the form of chromosomes. It is impossible to distinguish male and female embryos after conception apart from their chromosomes. It has been observed that the Y chromosomes in male embryos begin to encourage production of testosterone and other male sex hormones. These sex hormones cause the male embryo to develop male sexual organs instead of female sex organs. Along with that the androgens begin to cause the male brain to cultivate contrarily from the female. It is this information that biopsychologists might use to explain the differences in adulthood between the way males and females act and think. “For example, Dabbs et al (1995) found that violent offenders had higher testosterone levels than non-violent offenders and Coates et al (2008) found that financial traders with higher testosterone levels took greater risks. Women have higher levels of oxytocin than men and some researchers have linked this to increased sociability. Oxytocin seems to affect the formation of bonds and attachments between people.” (Bussey, K., & Bandura, A., 1999)

Similarly, another type of approach is known as the cognitive developmental theory. This

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