Do you think gender is binary?

By: Kade


If someone asked you ‘What is the difference between sex and gender?’ you would probably be shocked that there is a difference. We’ve been taught that there are only two genders our whole lives. It’s hard to believe the new media discovering all these confusing ways people represent themselves. But, if we take the time to learn about the definitions of these things that have been around for hundreds of years, we can broaden our horizons and be more accepting of people.

First, let's define sex and gender. Sex “refers to the anatomical and other biological differences between females and males that are determined at the moment of conception and develop in the womb…(Sociology, Understanding Sex and Gender, 11.1)” While gender “is a social concept. It refers to the social and cultural differences a society assigns to people based on their (biological) sex.(Sociology, Understanding Sex and Gender, 11.1)” Many people deny the fact that gender is different from sex. They assume you can’t represent yourself as anything other than the gender binary. The gender binary is “the cultural norm to classify people as male or female.(Sutter Health, The Gender Binary and Non-Binary Individuals)” 

Gender isn’t only the binary. There is research by scientists that proves this. According to Alina Dillahunt who is a research associate at the University of Utah, “Researchers have observed that brain structures in male to female transgender individuals can be significantly different from a typical male and more comparable to female counterparts, suggesting that brain structures may match their identity instead of their assigned sex. In fact, Dick Swaab, an expert in sex hormones and neurobiology, has found through various brain studies that gender identity is likely formed in the womb when the first surge of hormones occurs. He also found little evidence supporting the impact of social environment on gender identity. Concomitantly, this presents evidence that there is a biological response to gender identity.(Dillahunt, The Science Behind Gender Identity, 2)”

There is scientific evidence that proves gender identity is real. It’s not a phase that social media has influenced. Transgender people, non-binary people, gender-fluid people, agender people, etc. They all exist. Gender doesn’t only include the binary. Gender is a form of expression that we should welcome into this world instead of suppressing it. 

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