What You Should Know:
‘Gender’ is not a synonym for ‘sex.’ ‘Sex’ is a scientific term that refers to either of the two categories of individuals (male or female) that occur in many species. ‘Gender’ is a term borrowed from grammar that refers to cultural expectations regarding females and males. ‘Gender identity’ is a subjective term that refers to how a person perceives him- or herself. The conflation of these terms has serious negative consequences for our ability to create equal opportunities for women, foster safety, protect privacy, and conduct research, and collect accurate data.
