Table 2.
Sex and gender definitions.
| Sex Definition | Gender Definition | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| The different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc. | Refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women and men–such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed—including how they should interact with others of the same or opposite sex within households, communities and work places. | WHO [32] |
| Refers to a set of biological attributes in humans and animals. It is primarily associated with physical and physiological features including chromosomes, gene expression, hormone levels and function, and reproductive/sexual anatomy. Sex is usually categorized as female or male but there is variation in the biological attributes that comprise sex and how those attributes are expressed. | Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and each other, how they act and interact, and the distribution of power and resources in society. Gender is usually conceptualized as a binary (girl/woman and boy/man) yet there is considerable diversity in how individuals and groups understand, experience, and express it. | CIHR [33] |
| Refers to biological differences between females and males, including chromosomes, sex organs, and endogenous hormonal profiles. | Refers to socially constructed and enacted roles and behaviors which occur in a historical and cultural context and vary across societies and over time. All individuals act in many ways that fulfill the gender expectations of their society. With continuous interaction between sex and gender, health is determined by both biology and the expression of gender. | NIH [34] |
| Biological and physiological characteristics that define humans as female or male. | Social attributes and opportunities associated with being female and male and to the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as to the relations between women and those between men. | EIGE [35] |
| Refers to the chromosomal, gonadal and anatomical characteristics associated with biological sex. | It is a part of a person’s personal and social identity. It refers to the way a person feels, presents and is recognized within the community. A person’s gender may be reflected in outward social markers, including their name, outward appearance, mannerisms and dress. | Australian Government [36] |
WHO: World Health Organization; CIHR: Canadian Institutes of Health Research; NIH: National Institutes of Health; EIGE: European Institute of Gender Equality.