Gender Identity

Gender is one of the most fundamental dimensions of identity, shaping how individuals understand themselves, interact with others, and are treated by society. Sociologists distinguish between sex (biological) and gender (social), and examine how gender identities are constructed, maintained, and challenged through socialisation, culture, and power relations. This lesson examines key theories and debates relevant to the AQA specification.

Key Definition: Gender identity refers to an individual's subjective sense of their own gender — whether they identify as male, female, non-binary, or another gender identity — and how this sense of self is shaped by social, cultural, and biological factors.

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Sex vs Gender

The Distinction

Concept	Definition	Nature
Sex	Biological differences between males and females (chromosomes, hormones, reproductive anatomy)	Biological, generally fixed
Gender	The social and cultural expectations, roles, and behaviours associated with being male or female in a particular society	Social, culturally variable