Final answer:
The statement that babies are born gender-neutral is false. Gender has cultural and social aspects while sex is determined biologically at conception. The topic revolves around the complexity of sex and gender, particularly in intersex individuals and those who identify their gender differently from their assigned sex at birth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Babies are born gender-neutral' is false. While the term gender has cultural and social aspects that are subject to personal identity and societal norms, sex refers to the biological attributes, including chromosomes, hormone profiles, internal and external reproductive organs, which are typically categorized as male or female at birth. A baby's sex is biologically determined at conception, and genitalia develop in the fetus from the same tissues. Some children may later identify their gender differently from the sex they were assigned at birth, reflecting their personal gender identity.
For intersex individuals, who may have a combination of chromosomal, gonadal, and anatomical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female, assigning a gender at birth can be more complex. In these cases, some advocate for a more open and accepting approach, allowing the individual to express and define their own gender identity when they are old enough to do so.
The discussion of when and how to determine a child's gender is an important topic in both medical and social fields, highlighting the distinction between sex and gender, and the need for sensitivity and understanding about the complex nature of human identity