SEX AND GENDER
SEX
Sex refers to the biological makeup of a person’s body—the physical and internal characteristics
that are usually used to classify someone as male, female, or intersex. It is determined by a
combination of factors such as chromosomes (for example, XX or XY), reproductive organs (like
ovaries, testes, uterus), and hormones (such as estrogen and testosterone), all of which play a
role in how the body develops from birth and changes during puberty. When a baby is born,
doctors typically assign a sex based on visible physical features, but this is only one part of a
much more complex biological system. As a person grows, their body develops secondary
sexual characteristics—like facial hair, breast development, voice changes, and body
structure—which are influenced by hormonal activity. However, sex is not always strictly limited
to “male” or “female.” Some individuals are born with natural variations in chromosomes,
hormones, or anatomy that do not fit neatly into these categories; these individuals are
described as intersex. Understanding sex in a humanized way means recognizing that, while it
is rooted in biology, it is also diverse and not as rigid as it was once thought to be, reflecting the
natural complexity of human bodies.
Simple point wise notes
*Definition:
Sex refers to the biological classification of individuals as male, female, or intersex based on
physical and physiological characteristics.
*Basis of classification:
Chromosomal pattern (XX, XY)
Reproductive organs (ovaries, testes)
Hormonal profile (estrogen, testosterone)
*Assigned at birth:
Usually determined by external genitalia
Recorded as male or female in official documents
*Biological development:
Begins at fertilization (chromosomal combination)
Continues through fetal growth and puberty
SEX
Sex refers to the biological makeup of a person’s body—the physical and internal characteristics
that are usually used to classify someone as male, female, or intersex. It is determined by a
combination of factors such as chromosomes (for example, XX or XY), reproductive organs (like
ovaries, testes, uterus), and hormones (such as estrogen and testosterone), all of which play a
role in how the body develops from birth and changes during puberty. When a baby is born,
doctors typically assign a sex based on visible physical features, but this is only one part of a
much more complex biological system. As a person grows, their body develops secondary
sexual characteristics—like facial hair, breast development, voice changes, and body
structure—which are influenced by hormonal activity. However, sex is not always strictly limited
to “male” or “female.” Some individuals are born with natural variations in chromosomes,
hormones, or anatomy that do not fit neatly into these categories; these individuals are
described as intersex. Understanding sex in a humanized way means recognizing that, while it
is rooted in biology, it is also diverse and not as rigid as it was once thought to be, reflecting the
natural complexity of human bodies.
Simple point wise notes
*Definition:
Sex refers to the biological classification of individuals as male, female, or intersex based on
physical and physiological characteristics.
*Basis of classification:
Chromosomal pattern (XX, XY)
Reproductive organs (ovaries, testes)
Hormonal profile (estrogen, testosterone)
*Assigned at birth:
Usually determined by external genitalia
Recorded as male or female in official documents
*Biological development:
Begins at fertilization (chromosomal combination)
Continues through fetal growth and puberty
