Words have meaning, definitions are important.

54 replies

JellySlice · 02/06/2018 13:59

So when did the meaning of 'gender' change?

From the Pocket OED 1942

Words have meaning, definitions are important.

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NotTerfNorCis · 02/06/2018 14:08

Sexologists differentiated between sex and gender in the 1950s when working with intersex children. It was to define the 'appropriate' behaviour for each sex.

In the seventies, feminists developed the concept of gender to mean the social construct associated with each sex. They came to understand it as an oppressive construct that supports the patriarchy.

Not long after, 'gender' started to be used in place of 'sex' because it seemed more polite.

And now 'gender' has come to mean an inner sense of maleness or femaleness which is more important than the body.

That's how I understand it!

BeyondSceptical · 02/06/2018 14:03

Etymology wise, gender comes from the French genre (which was also used as gendre), which comes from the Latin genus - meaning class or group.

Not that this answers your question!

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JellySlice · 02/06/2018 14:02

Concise Oxford Dictionary of Etymology 1986, which also gives the root 'gen'.

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Original poster

JellySlice · 02/06/2018 14:00

Collins Dictionary and Thesaurus 1987

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