Final answer:
The terms 'sex' and 'gender' are distinct, with sex relating to biological differences and gender to social constructs. When gender identity differs from biological sex, an individual may identify as transgender. Other related terms include gender roles, cross-dresser, and intersex, which reflect the diversity of gender and sexuality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms sex and gender represent different concepts. Sex refers to the biological factors that differentiate males and females, such as genitalia, chromosomes, hormones, and secondary sexual characteristics. In contrast, gender pertains to the social and cultural constructs of masculinity and femininity. While often aligned, sex and gender may not always be synchronous; when a person's gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth, they may identify as transgender.
Gender identity is an individual's intrinsic sense of being male, female, or an alternative gender, which may or may not correspond to their biological sex. This can include non-binary identities, where individuals do not identify strictly with male or female categories. On the other hand, gender role and sex role refer to the societal expectations and norms associated with a person's gender or sex. Gender role ideology involves the cultural beliefs about the behaviors and attitudes that are appropriate based on one's gender role.
Cross-dresser typically refers to individuals who wear clothing traditionally associated with the opposite gender, often for personal, non-professional reasons. Transsexual is an older term that was once used for individuals who have changed or seek to change their bodies through medical interventions, such as hormones or surgery, to better match their gender identity. Lastly, intersex describes individuals born with sex characteristics that do not fit conventional definitions of male or female.
The chapter also dives into the significance of understanding these concepts to recognize and address social inequalities based on gender identity and sexual orientation, along with the negative implications of homophobia and heterosexism.