Using gender when studying Biology! What are they teaching.

[Confusedmumannoyedson]

So was talking about getting a pet and my son said what gender. I said not gender just boy or girl and he said we aren't 'allowed' to say that anymore we have to use gender. I explained that gender is something you can pick and there are lots people use including them/they which is fine for how someone identifies but not for animals or when talking biology. I am thinking he is confused because he said they use gender in biology now and don't use sex. I checked with a friend who said he is right.

AIBU? Surely sex should be used for a science subject like biology, and gender should be kept for personal use for how someone thinks they are.

I'm in my late 2s, left high school 10 years ago.

When I studied biology the word 'sex' was used, to describe sex-linked conditions and how chromosomes genetics etc worked. We used it for plants and animals too.

I understood 'sex' to be distinct from gender identity and just a scientific way of explaining how organisms reproduced and passed on genetic material.

But I can understand how confusion easily arises because so many people use the terms interchangeably when they really mean one or the other.

(another biologist here just waiting to hear about all those animals with more than two sexes, by the way)

*my late 20s!

I teach biology.
I teach about biological sex.

The specifications haven't changed since 2015 - none of these new, unevidenced ideas have been officially incorporated.

Some of the older past exam questions & textbooks use "gender" in the traditional usage. I always clarify to my students that this word was used to mean biological sex until recently. (And that "gender identity" has no relevance here if the extra clarification is necessary)

Most of GCSE & KS3 science is based around humans & mammals.

Not really animals but there are protists which are pretty interesting. Algae that has male and female reproductive capabilities. Amoeba that self replicate. Of course there are lots of sex changing sea creatures. Not that it has any relevance to sex being taught in schools.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rV-Exeal17s

Agree with this. I'm in my 30s and would have, until about 5 years ago, thought nothing of using "gender" interchangeably with "sex" to refer to male/female.

This is not true.

Goodness, I'm old. I grew up thinking gender was key to passing my French and Latin GCSEs. I just don't remember the word being much in use, except amongst feminists, perhaps. That was the 80s though. I dislike the faux politeness of using it instead of sex. Say what you mean, for goodness sake! Some of us struggle with ambiguity.

@Conkersinautumn didn't frame their statement as interchangeable sex, but instead stated there are additional sexes:

There are more than 2 sexes in a lot of other animals though, or were you too incensed to actually teach your child something? Or was your education limited by some notion of Adam and eve, 2 by two?

We're waiting for an update on 'more than 2 sexes in a lot of other animals'.

Biology teacher here! I always use sex, as that is the core t term and what an exam mark scheme will want. I tell the kids that bring up gender that that is what they need to discuss in PHSE, and that ass far as biology goes, your sex is hard wired into every cell of your body.every other biology teacher at my place of work says the same thing. Saying otherwise will cost marks in an exam.

*correct term, of course

I'm still interested in being told about all the animals which have more than two sexes.

@TheShellBeach

I'd get a comfy chair for that wait - could be while

I've already got in a large stock of popcorn.

There's a special type of animal called a deluded fool.

The animals went in two by two. Except for the species that have more than two sexes. They went in three by three.

😖😆

What is this mysterious third gamete then, and what is its function? Sperm, egg, and what?

YANBU
I would always use sex instead of gender in biology unless I was talking about social stereotypes. When I was a biology teacher the word ‘sex’ always generated sniggers and red faces in the class.

Spegg

Sperg

@Sinoatrialnode That's a relief to hear!

My son is 14. I'll keep an ear out for this nonsense.
I am a molecular biologist so he's got a pretty good understanding of DNA from me.

Lots of science teachers in secondary school will say gender when they mean sex, because a teacher saying the word “sex” repeatedly in front of a group of teenage boys will result in a lot of sniggering, IME.

Not a new thing, and definitely not a trans thing.

Seriously, WOW! Science teachers say it and yet teach science. You say to avoid sniggers from boys. Surely they aren't that bothered by sniggers. No wonder kids are confused.

Worth a few red faces and sniggers to teach facts though. I'm glad you did it and no idea when it became a thing to change it.

Well @Conkersinautumn your statement "There are more than 2 sexes in a lot of other animals though, or were you too incensed to actually teach your child something? Or was your education limited by some notion of Adam and eve, 2 by two?"

Lots of us are still waiting to hear about the mysterious other sexes that you have discovered.... Or were you too incensed to actually read what I said and race down what you thought was clever with the Adam and Eve bit (but wasn't clever at all)?

Still waiting for all the other sexes you speak of. Enlighten us all?