Gender instead of sex

[furandchandeliers]

I don't know how to explain why but I hate it when people say they're having a scan to find out the gender of the baby, and the other day I was asked by an 8 year old what gender my dog is!

I've even found myself crossing off the bit on forms that asks me my gender, and writing sex instead and then female.

Aibu to do this? Why does it annoy me so much? If I try and explain it to anyone I just get looked at like this

[furandchandeliers]

They do not mean the same!!!!

[SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace]

They're not the same at all. Babies have a sex, and gendering is what will happen from the moment they're born as a result of that sex.

[furandchandeliers]

Sex is what you are born as and will always be so male or female, gender is what you present yourself as, so girl or boy, man or woman. So basically masculine or feminine, pink or blue, blah blah blah. I'm sure someone else will be along to explain it better in a minute.

[Samcro]

i often wonder if people are all coy about saying sex.
yanbu its odd.

[Candyflip]

I fear that Holmesbird’s response may not be quite as unusual as thought. I truly despair at how fucking ignorant some people are. Ffs.

[MyAuntyBadger]

Yanbu, might as well ask what type of personality you have. Or star sign.

[theluggageslegs]

Samcro I think you’re into something there. When I had my eldest 11 years ago the sonographer asked if we wanted to know the sex; by the time I was pregnant with my youngest four years ago it was gender.

[KM99]

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363.php

In general terms, "sex" refers to the biological differences between males and females, such as the genitalia and genetic differences.

"Gender" is more difficult to define, but it can refer to the role of a male or female in society, known as a gender role, or an individual's concept of themselves, or gender identity.

[Northumberlandlass]

Gender and Sex are NOT the same

[DuggeeHugs]

YANBU it's a lazy use of language which has resulted in the conflation of two completely different things.

[Bohemond]

The BBC always uses gender instead of sex and it gives me the rage.

[BlueBug45]

OP I agree with you about finding out the "gender" on fetal scans however disagree with you about forms for people who have been born.

You can only find out the biological sex of a baby before they are born, but once someone is born and starts interacting in society then they may have a gender that differs from their biological sex. Forms asking you for your gender reflect this and include the small minority of people whose biological sex isn't male or female.

[CircleSquareCircleSquare]

Sex and gender are not the same.
Gender is a social construct, I reject the concept.

[Alconleigh]

I nodded approvingly at a form I was completing the other day which asked my sex, not my gender. It's very rare.

[ArialAnna]

They're not the same at all. Babies have a sex, and gendering is what will happen from the moment they're born as a result of that sex

Yes, but for over 95% of the population their sex and gender will end up being the same, so you are being a little pernickety. But we all have little inaccuries that strangely annoy us. I hate it when people say 'more easier' or say the letter H with a 'huh' sound.

[Noqont]

Why does it bother you so much? The words mean the same. YABU. I always say gender.

Why do you think it's the same?

[Northumberlandlass]

I was on a course earlier this week about well being which was ran by TUC.

First session of the day and the questions was asked "What determines Health & Well Being?" (what factors influence our health)

The second 'answer' was gender. I asked if she meant sex....the course leader looked confused and said "Yes, gender" - it wasn't the arena for a rant, but I actually despair at this!!

[LastOneDancing]

It's people being all coy about using the word... you know... ... sex

And it's ridiculous, because now some people actually think it's the same thing.

My DS new school asked his gender on the new starter form. I nearly crossed it out but didn't want to be 'that parent' from the off.

[BlueBug45]

Those who think gender and sex are the same should do some basic research. They are not the same thing.

A fetus can't have a gender because it has no interaction with society. You can argue whether a dog has a gender, but if I see a dog with a penis I presume it's sex is male unless I am told otherwise.

[Candyflip]

Bluebug how does it actually benefit anyone to record someone’s perceived gender though? It is understandable to record biological sex, for medical reasons etc. But why gender? What about people who have no gender identity? I reject gender, what the fuck should I do with these forms? Hmmm.

[sparkling123]

I thought forms that used 'gender?' genuinely wanted to know what gender I identified as, and were trying to be more politically correct / inclusive. I would be annoyed if a form did actually need to know my biological sex but asked me for my gender, as yes they are different things

[araiwa]

I couldnt care less

Its not important in general usage

I think its mainly to avoid using the word 'sex'