Final answer:
Sex and gender are not synonymous and interchangeable; they have different meanings. Sex refers to biological characteristics, while gender refers to social and cultural traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sex and gender are not synonymous and interchangeable. They do not mean the exact same thing. The term 'sex' refers to the biological characteristics of an individual, such as male or female, based on their anatomy and genetics. On the other hand, 'gender' refers to the social, cultural, and psychological traits associated with being male or female, which can vary across different societies and cultures.
For example, a person who is assigned female at birth (based on their biological sex) may identify as male (based on their gender identity). In this case, their sex and gender do not align. Similarly, a person who is intersex may have variations in their biological sex characteristics but may identify with either male or female gender.
It is important to understand the distinction between sex and gender to respect and acknowledge the diversity of individuals' identities and experiences.