7. How are gender and sex different?

Gender and sex are two distinct concepts that refer to different aspects of human identity.Sex refers to biologically determined characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. It is based on biological factors and does not depend on a person's thoughts, feelings, or actions. In general, people are classified based on their sex at birth: males are classified as male and females as female.However, gender extends beyond the biological realm and encompasses social, cultural, and psychological factors. Gender refers to the ways in which individuals express and experience their masculinity or femininity based on societal norms, expectations, and stereotypes. It can be seen as a reflection of one's sense of self, including beliefs about what it means to be masculine or feminine, how to act and behave in certain situations, and what roles are appropriate for men and women.In other words, while sex is based on biology, gender is a social construct that is created by society and influenced by culture, values, and beliefs. While both gender and sex exist independently, they are closely related and often intersect in complex ways. For example, some individuals may identify as non-binary or transgender, which means that they do not identify exclusively with either the gender assigned at birth or the opposite gender. These individuals may have different experiences and expressions of masculinity or femininity depending on their personal preferences and identities.