Final answer:
Gender is a social and cultural construct related to masculinity and femininity, while sex is based on biological differences between males and females. Gender roles can vary between cultures and change over time, whereas biological sex characteristics are more consistent.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the social sciences, gender is defined as the social and cultural characteristics of masculine and feminine behavior. It is distinct from sex, which refers to the biological characteristics differentiating males and females. Gender includes behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to being a particular biological sex, but it is not determined by biological characteristics alone. Unlike sex, which is based on physical differences such as chromosomes and reproductive organs, gender roles are culturally constructed and can vary greatly between different societies and over time. Menstruation and the development of breasts, for example, are characteristics of the female sex, which do not vary significantly between human societies. In contrast, gender expressions, such as wearing dresses or skirts, may vary widely across cultures and historical periods.