I have just had a paper published that argues it is time to ditch “gender” except in relation to “gender identity”. I thought some here might be interested. Summary excerpt below.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-025-03310-3
"To facilitate clear communication, terms that clearly distinguish between sex, the social expectations of the sexes, and gender identity should be used. Here follows proposed terminology to improve clarity in relation to these concepts.
First, when referring to the reproductive categorizations of male and female, the term “sex” should be used and “gender” avoided. Furthermore, the scientific terms for the sexes of “male” and “female” should not be used to describe gender identities. This is particularly important in data collection where it is likely that many respondents will interpret questions with the answers of “male” and “female” as asking for their sex when the inquiry is intended to be in relation to gender identity (Balarajan et al., 2011). Accurate data collection on sex can be promoted by asking individuals to state their “sex as recorded at birth” or “birth sex.” Where it is necessary to define sex (e.g., in scientific, legal, or medical settings), the description should be in relation to sex as a reproductive classification rather than sex characteristics.
Second, when referring to the expectations that societies and cultures place on boys and girls, men and women and the resultant impact of this, the descriptors “social expectations of the sexes” or “social construction of the sexes” should be used. It has recently become common when discussing the interaction between sex and the social expectations of the sexes for the conjunction “sex/gender” to be used (e.g., Galinsky et al., 2024) but this should also be avoided due to the risk of confusion or conflation of the social expectations of the sexes and gender identity.
Third, when referring to gender identity, the term “gender identity” rather than “gender” should be used as the abbreviation risks confusion with sex. In circumstances where it is necessary to discuss issues related to individuals who have changed their legal sex, the term “certificated sex” or “legal sex” may be appropriate (United Kingdom Supreme Court, 2025)."