Sex is a biological category
Sex is a biological category (male, female) and gender is a more fluid category (woman, man, transgender). Using the interactive PBS map about global concepts of gender to identify and then research another culture where there are third genders. Why is gender diversity important?
Sex and Gender
Sex is a biological category that refers to a person's physical characteristics, such as their chromosomes, genitals, and hormones. Gender is a social construct that refers to the roles, behaviors, and expressions that are typically associated with men and women in a particular culture.
Gender is more fluid than sex because it is not determined solely by biology. People can identify with a gender that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. They may also choose to express their gender in ways that are not traditionally associated with their biological sex.
Third Genders
Third genders are genders that exist outside of the traditional binary of male and female. They may be recognized as distinct genders in a particular culture, or they may be used to describe people who do not identify with either male or female.
Here are some examples of third genders from different cultures around the world:
- Hijras in India are people who are assigned male at birth but identify as a third gender. They may dress and behave in ways that are traditionally associated with women, and they often play important roles in religious and cultural ceremonies.
- Muxe in Mexico are people who are assigned male at birth but identify as a third gender. They may dress and behave in ways that are traditionally associated with women, and they often hold positions of respect and leadership in their communities.
- Two-spirit people in North America are people who embody both male and female spirits. They may be assigned male or female at birth, but they identify with a third gender that is both masculine and feminine.