Sex, Gender, and Sexuality - Explained

Summary

This video from Eric at Stanford University explores the intricate concepts of sex, gender, and sexual orientation, emphasizing their distinctions and complexities. Eric clarifies that these terms are not binary and highlights the importance of using appropriate terminology and respecting individual identities. He discusses intersex conditions, gender identity, expression, and the spectrum of sexual orientations, including heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual. The video also touches on the evolving language and the reclaimed term 'queer,' urging viewers to look beyond labels and understand the unique experiences of each individual.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sex, gender, and sexual orientation are distinct aspects of a person's identity and experience, each with its own complexities.
• 🏥 The speaker, Eric from Stanford University, approaches these topics from a healthcare professional's perspective, focusing on concepts and terminology rather than politics or activism.
• 🔍 It's important to avoid reducing individuals to stereotypes or labels and to recognize the diversity within each group, such as among gay, straight, transgender, and cisgender people.
• 🕰 Terminology evolves, and terms once common may now be considered offensive, highlighting the need for ongoing education and sensitivity to language use.
• 🌈 Always strive to understand and use the terms that individuals prefer for self-identification, respecting their unique experiences and perspectives.
• 🧬 Sex is determined by a combination of external genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and sex chromosomes, and is not strictly binary, with intersex individuals being an example of this complexity.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Gender identity is an internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or another gender, and is separate from biological sex, with terms like cisgender and transgender describing the relationship between gender identity and assigned sex at birth.
• 👔 Gender expression is how an individual presents their gender to the world through clothing, behavior, and mannerisms, which may or may not align with their gender identity.
• 💖 Sexual orientation encompasses sexual attraction, behavior, romantic attraction, and identity, and includes orientations such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Transgender and gender non-binary individuals can have any sexual orientation, and their gender does not determine their sexual orientation.
• 🌟 The term 'queer' has been reclaimed by some as a positive umbrella term for non-cisgender and non-heterosexual identities, but its use should always reflect individual and generational preferences.

Q & A

What are the main topics covered in Eric's video from Stanford University?

The main topics covered in Eric's video are the diversity of sex, gender, and sexual orientation, with an emphasis on the differences between these concepts and the evolving terminology used to describe them.

Why does Eric mention that the topics of sex, gender, and sexual orientation are highly politicized in the US?

Eric mentions the politicization of these topics to set the context that the video will not cover the political aspects or activism related to sex, gender, and sexual orientation, but rather focus on the concepts and terminology from a healthcare professional's perspective.

What is the first caveat Eric presents about discussing sex, gender, and sexual orientation?

The first caveat is that defining terms can lead to them becoming labels, which may reduce the unique characteristics and life experiences of individuals to stereotypes and assumptions.

How does Eric define 'sex' in the context of the video?

Eric defines 'sex' as one's physical self at birth, determined by a combination of external genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and sex chromosomes, and he emphasizes that sex is not binary, as it can include intersex variations.

What is the difference between 'gender identity' and 'gender expression' as explained by Eric?

Gender identity is a person's inherent sense of being a man, woman, or something else, which is internal and not visible to others. Gender expression is how an individual presents their gender to the world through clothing, hairstyle, mannerisms, and behavior, which may or may not align with their gender identity.

What is the term used to describe people whose combination of genitalia, internal anatomy, and sex chromosomes don't fit the typical male-female dichotomy?

The term commonly used is 'intersex,' although 'disorders of sex development' was introduced about 10 years ago and has been controversial due to its implications and reception among intersex individuals and activists.

How does Eric explain the term 'transgender' in relation to gender identity?

Eric explains 'transgender' as describing a person whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. A transgender man identifies as a man but was assigned female at birth, and a transgender woman identifies as a woman but was assigned male at birth.

What is the significance of using a person's preferred pronouns according to Eric's discussion?

Using a person's preferred pronouns is significant because it respects their gender identity. It is important to ask what pronouns a person prefers rather than assuming, as this can be a matter of affirming their identity and avoiding offense or trauma.

How does Eric describe the term 'sexual orientation' and its components?

Sexual orientation refers to whether a person is straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual, and includes components such as sexual attraction, sexual behavior, romantic attraction, and sexual identity. It is separate from a person's gender and should not be inferred from it.

What is the term 'queer' used to describe, and how has its perception changed over time according to Eric?

The term 'queer' is an umbrella term used to describe a gender and/or sexual orientation that does not conform to cisgender, heterosexual societal norms. It was once a pejorative term but has been reclaimed by younger generations as a source of pride, though its perception can vary due to generational gaps.

What is the final point Eric makes about labels and understanding individuals in the context of sex, gender, and sexual orientation?

Eric's final point is that while labels can help categorize people, they exist on a continuous spectrum and should not be used to limit understanding. True understanding requires going beyond labels, casting aside assumptions, and getting to know individuals better by listening to their stories.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

Eric from Stanford University introduces a discussion on the diversity of sex, gender, and sexual orientation, emphasizing the importance of understanding these concepts from a healthcare perspective. He outlines several caveats, including the politicized nature of these topics in the US, the risk of reducing individuals to stereotypes, and the evolving nature of terminology. Eric stresses the importance of using the terms that individuals prefer for themselves and respecting those who choose not to label their identity.

05:01

🧬 The Complexity of Biological Sex

This paragraph delves into the complexities of biological sex, explaining that it is determined by a combination of external genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and sex chromosomes. It clarifies that sex is not binary, as there are intersex individuals whose physical characteristics do not fit typical male or female categories. The paragraph also covers conditions like androgen insensitivity syndrome and mosaicism, which further illustrate the diversity within sex characteristics.

10:02

🏳️‍🌈 Understanding Gender Identity and Expression

Eric discusses gender as a separate domain from sex, focusing on gender identity, which is an individual's internal sense of being a man, woman, or something else. He explains terms like 'cisgender' and 'transgender', and introduces concepts such as 'genderqueer', 'non-binary', and 'gender fluid'. The paragraph also addresses gender expression, the way individuals present themselves to the world, and the importance of using an individual's preferred pronouns and names, especially in a clinical context.

15:04

🌈 Exploring Sexual Orientation and Its Dimensions

The paragraph explores sexual orientation, distinguishing it from sex and gender. It defines sexual attraction, behavior, romantic attraction, and sexual identity, covering terms such as 'heterosexual', 'homosexual', 'bisexual', 'pansexual', and 'asexual'. Eric also discusses the sexuality of transgender and gender non-binary individuals, emphasizing that their gender does not determine their sexual orientation. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the term 'queer' as an umbrella term for non-conforming gender and sexual orientations.

🔍 Summing Up: The Distinctions and Individuality

In the concluding paragraph, Eric summarizes the distinctions between sex, gender, and sexual orientation, reiterating that they are related but separate aspects of identity. He emphasizes that while labels can be useful for categorization, they are limited and should not be used to stereotype or assume an individual's unique experiences. Eric encourages going beyond labels to truly understand individuals by listening to their stories and acknowledges the complexity of the topic, suggesting further learning through specific resources.

Keywords

💡Sex

Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define whether a person is male, female, or intersex. In the video, it is explained that sex is not binary and includes a combination of external genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and sex chromosomes. The script uses the term to emphasize the complexity beyond the traditional male or female dichotomy, including conditions like androgen insensitivity syndrome and mosaicism.

💡Gender

Gender is a social construct that encompasses a person's identity as a man, woman, or something outside the traditional binary. The video distinguishes between gender identity, which is one's internal sense of self, and gender expression, which is how one presents oneself to the world. The script discusses terms like 'cisgender' and 'transgender' to illustrate the relationship between gender identity and the sex assigned at birth.

💡Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is the term used to describe who a person is attracted to romantically and sexually. The video script outlines various orientations such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual, emphasizing that these are separate from a person's gender and should not be conflated.

💡Cisgender

Cisgender describes individuals whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. The video script uses this term to highlight the contrast with transgender individuals, whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex.

💡Transgender

Transgender refers to people whose gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. The video explains that a transgender man is someone assigned female at birth but identifies as a man, and vice versa for a transgender woman. It also touches on the process of transition and the importance of using an individual's preferred pronouns.

💡Genderqueer

Genderqueer is a term used by individuals whose gender identity doesn't conform to the traditional binary of male or female. The video script mentions this term as part of the broader discussion on gender identities that exist outside the conventional categories.

💡Non-binary

Non-binary is a term that can be used interchangeably with genderqueer, referring to a gender identity that doesn't fit within the binary of male or female. The script uses this term to illustrate the diversity within the gender spectrum.

💡Gender Fluid

Gender fluid describes individuals whose gender identity varies over time or across different situations. The video script explains that this fluidity can be a part of a person's gender identity, which may not be fixed.

💡Intersex

Intersex is used to describe individuals whose combination of genitalia, internal anatomy, and sex chromosomes don't fit the typical male-female dichotomy. The video script discusses the term in the context of the complexity of biological sex and the controversy surrounding the alternative term 'disorders of sex development.'

💡Sexual Attraction

Sexual attraction is a key aspect of sexual orientation, referring to whom a person is drawn to on a sexual level. The video script explains different types of sexual attraction, such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual, and how they contribute to an individual's sexual orientation.

💡Queer

Queer is an umbrella term that has been reclaimed by some as a source of pride, referring to individuals who do not conform to cisgender, heterosexual societal norms. The video script notes the term's evolution from a pejorative to a term of empowerment, with a caution about generational perceptions of the word.

Highlights

Eric from Stanford University discusses the diversity of sex, gender, and sexual orientation, emphasizing the need to understand these as separate and complex domains of identity.

The video comes with caveats about the politicized nature of the topics and the risk of reducing individuals to stereotypes through terminology.

Terminology evolves over time, and some terms once common are now considered offensive, highlighting the importance of using current and respectful language.

Sex is more complicated than just male or female, involving a combination of external genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and sex chromosomes.

Intersex individuals do not fit the typical male-female dichotomy, and the term 'disorders of sex development' has been controversial.

Gender identity is an internal sense of being male, female, or something else, and is separate from a person's sex assigned at birth.

Cisgender and transgender are terms used to describe whether a person's gender identity matches or differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Genderqueer and non-binary individuals do not conform to the traditional binary gender paradigm, and gender fluid individuals have a varying gender identity.

Pronouns should reflect a person's gender identity, not their assigned sex, and can include unfamiliar words like 'ze' or '0' for non-binary individuals.

Gender expression is how an individual presents themselves to the world and may or may not align with their gender identity.

Transitioning for transgender individuals can involve changes in dress, hair, hormone therapy, and/or surgery, now referred to as gender affirming or confirming surgery.

Sexual orientation is separate from gender and includes sexual attraction, behavior, romantic attraction, and sexual identity.

Transgender and gender non-binary individuals can identify as straight, gay, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual, with their orientation independent of their gender identity.

Sexual orientation encompasses a spectrum of romantic and sexual attractions beyond just heterosexuality and homosexuality.

The term 'queer' has been reclaimed by some as a source of pride, but its use can vary based on generational perceptions.

The importance of understanding individuals beyond labels, by listening to their stories and recognizing the uniqueness of each person's identity.

Recommendations for further learning about LGBTQ health include a Coursera course and the National LGBT Health Education Center's comprehensive website.

Transcripts

hello it's Eric from Stanford University

and strong medicine today I'm going to

be talking about the diversity of sex

gender and sexual orientation

[Music]

before I get into the specifics this

video comes with a few caveats first the

topics of sex gender and sexual

orientation are highly politicized here

in the US if you've derived this video

wanting to learn more about the relevant

politics or activism I'm afraid that's

not what I'll be covering instead I'll

be discussing concepts and terminology

from the perspective of a healthcare

professional which brings me to caveat

number two whenever we define terms we

risk those terms turning into labels and

we also risk reducing the unique

characteristics and life experiences of

an individual into stereotypes and

collections of assumptions we need to

keep in mind that there's as much

diversity among gay people as there is

among straight people and as much

diversity among transgender people as

cisgender people a person sex gender and

orientation may be parts of their

identity but they are certainly not the

only parts caveat number three

terminology evolves over time some of

the terms I'll discuss today were not in

common use ten years ago and it might

not be in common use ten years from now

and some which once may have seemed

innocuous may now be seen as offensive

for example homosexual hermaphrodite and

sexual preference are all terms that

were once common and which now should be

avoided and the last caveat is that no

matter what you learn from me today

always trying to understand and mirror

the terms an individual uses for

themselves so for example if a person

refers to themselves as gender-fluid or

bisexual do not say you know I don't

think you really are that thing instead

you can in a very non-judgmental way say

something like what does bisexual mean

to you or I haven't met someone before

who is gender fluid do you feel

comfortable telling me more about it if

you're talking to the other person not

as a friend but rather in a clinical

context for example if they are a

patient and you are a healthcare

professional be sure to distinguish the

information that's needed for clinical

care from any information that's just

idle curiosity as the latter may be seen

intrusive and unwelcome also some people

don't like to place any labels at all on

their sex gender and orientation that's

okay and should be respected all right

so now with all that out of the way

let's talk terminology the first thing

to know is that sex gender and sexual

orientation are not the same thing yes

they are related but they are also

separate domains of a person's identity

and experience and within each domain

are different characteristics none of

which are dichotomous or binary so sex

is not just male or female gender is not

just man or woman and sexual orientation

is not just gay or straight let's tackle

each domain one at a time first up sex

this is sometimes labeled biological sex

but I think that's misleading since it

implies that gender and orientation are

somehow less biological sex describes

one's physical self at birth to many

people it refers to whether a person is

male or female that might seem very

elementary after all sex is simply

determined by what's between your legs

right but remember that I said each

domain contains multiple separate

characteristics and that none of them

are binary so how is that possible with

sex aren't babies born with either a

penis or vagina and thus are either boys

or girls well no not necessarily you see

sex is determined by a combination of

external genitalia internal reproductive

organs and the sex chromosomes these

don't always match according to common

experience for example infants can be

born with what is known as ambiguous

genitalia in which they don't clearly

have just a typical penis or clearly

have a typical clitoris and vagina but

instead they have something else

this may be an unusually small penis

with a urethral opening in the scrotum

it may be only an unusually large

clitoris that resembles a penis an

infant may have a vagina but also

palpable test

within the labial folds there are

countless variations sometimes an infant

may have external genitalia that appears

clearly male or clearly female but with

internal reproductive organs that don't

match with what might be typically

expected for example in a condition

called androgen insensitivity syndrome a

mutation in the androgen receptor

renders a fetus incapable of responding

to testosterone while developing in

utero as a consequence the fetus

develops a vagina and clitoris but they

have no uterus or fallopian tubes and

instead of ovaries

they have non functioning testes that

resides somewhere within the pelvis our

chromosomes add yet another layer of

complexity you probably learned in high

school biology that human cells have 23

pairs of chromosomes one of which are

the so called sex chromosomes because

they determine our sex if an embryo

inherits one x chromosome from each

parents they will typically develop into

a female if on the other hand an embryo

inherits an X chromosome from their

mother and the Y chromosome from their

father they will typically develop into

a male but sometimes genetic conditions

affecting hormones can lead to

discordance between chromosomes and a

person's physical appearance a person

cells could be XX yet the person is

anatomically male while another person

cells could be XY yet they are

anatomically female a variation of this

phenomenon is called mosaicism mosaicism

is a condition in which the cells in an

individual's body don't all carry the

same DNA so when a person has mosaicism

affecting the sex chromosomes some of

their cells might carry one X and one Y

chromosome while their other cells might

carry two x chromosomes or just one X

chromosome such individuals can have a

very wide diversity of external

appearances and internal anatomy and in

fact some of you watching this video

could have either mosaicism of your sex

chromosomes or have a discordance

between your chromosomes and your

external appearance and you might not

even know about it

so the bottom line with sex is that it's

way more complicated than just male or

female

the term intersex is commonly used to

describe people whose combination of

genitalia internal anatomy and sex

chromosomes don't fit into the typical

male versus female dichotomy an

alternative term for this disorders of

sex development was introduced into the

medical lexicon about 10 years ago but

has proven controversial many intersex

individuals don't see themselves as

having as having a disorder per se and

activists also fear that the term might

sway parents of an intersex infants

towards making an unnecessary and

irreversible medical decision for their

child such as drastic surgical

alteration of their genitalia the next

broad domain is gender gender can be

seen as having two main characteristics

first is gender identity this is a

person's inherent sense of being a man

or a woman or both neither

somewhere in the middle or another

gender altogether gender identity is

internal and is not visible to others

cisgender describes a person whose

gender identity is the same as the sex

assigned to them at birth

transgender describes a person whose

gender identity differs from the sex

assigned to them at Birth a transgender

man is a person whose assigned sex at

birth was female

but who identifies now as a man a

transgender woman is a person who's

assigned sex at birth was male but who

identifies now as a woman genderqueer

describes a person whose gender identity

does not conform to the traditional

binary gender paradigm non-binary is

sometimes used as a synonym for this and

gender fluid describes a person whose

gender identity is not fixed but varies

with time or varies based on situation

transgender individuals often adopt

names that are different from their

birth or legal names and may refer

pronouns that are consistent with their

gender identity and not with their

assigned sex in other words it is

gender not sex that usually determines

what pronouns to use for a person and

since gender identity is an internal

sense of the individual it is literally

impossible to know for certain what

pronouns are most appropriate without

asking sometimes these pronouns may be

words unfamiliar to you such as Z or 0

as the individual may want to convey

that they have a non-binary gender

identity some genderqueer individuals

prefer the singular they but the bottom

line is to always use the individuals

preferred name and pronouns and to make

these clear in the person's medical

chart continuing to use a transgender

individuals original name and original

pronouns against their request is

offensive and can be traumatizing in

addition to gender identity there is

also gender expression gender expression

is the gender which an individual

chooses to present themselves as to the

world it consists of the choice of

clothing hairstyle and makeup it may

consist of deliberate mannerisms and

speech and behavior and it may or may

not be consistent with one's gender

identity when a transgender individual

chooses for their physical appearance to

consistently match their gender identity

this can be referred to as an

affirmation of their gender identity the

transition process in which a

transgender individual affirms their

identity can involve changes in dress in

hair hormone therapy and/or surgery in

the past it was common to call such

surgery gender reassignment surgery

however it's now preferable to call it

gender affirming surgery or gender

confirmation surgery since these

individuals are not actually changing

genders

they are simply altering their external

Anatomy to match the gender that they've

always been the last broad domain is

sexual orientation one characteristic

within sexual orientation is sexual

attraction if a man is sexually

attracted to a woman or a woman is

sexually attracted to a man they are

heterosexual and colloquially known as

a man who has sexually attracted to

another man or woman attracted to a

woman can be considered homosexual

although gay and lesbian respectively

are currently the generally preferred

terms in the u.s. if a person is

sexually attracted to both men and women

they are bisexual if they are sexually

attracted to all sexes and genders

across both spectrums of sex and gender

that is referred to as pansexual and if

they don't feel much sexual attraction

to anyone

they are asexual one point of frequent

confusion concerns the sexuality of

transgender and gender non-binary

individuals just as cisgender

individuals they can be straight gay

bisexual pansexual or asexual a person's

gender is separate from their sexual

orientation and one cannot be inferred

from the other and consider for a moment

a transgender woman that is a person who

was assigned male at birth but who now

identifies as a woman if she is

attracted to men she is heterosexual not

gay the same is true of transgender men

who are attracted to women

another characteristic within sexual

orientation is sexual behavior sexual

behavior refers to the people with whom

an individual actually has sexual

relationships while sexual attraction

and behavior are usually the same they

don't need to be for example a person

might be attracted to people of multiple

sexes yet be sexually active with only

members of one sex due to societal or

religious pressures another example

might be a Catholic nun who could be

straight or gay based on sexual

attraction while her sexual behavior is

celibate because she is not acting on

that attraction a third characteristic

is romantic attraction romantic

attraction acknowledges that intimate

relationships don't require sexual

activity a person can be sexually

attracted to multiple genders but only

romantically interested in one or vice

versa or someone might experience only

romantic attraction without any sex

attraction at all to any sex or gender

or vice-versa and the final

characteristic within sexual orientation

is sexual identity which refers to

whether an individual sees themselves as

straight versus gay versus something

different

one final term to mention which somewhat

transcends the individual domains is

queer queer is an umbrella term that

individuals may use to describe either a

gender and/or a sexual orientation that

does not conform to the cisgender

heterosexual societal norms when I was

growing up queer was a uniformly

pejorative term however the word has

since been reclaimed by the younger

generations as a source of pride but not

universally so just remember to always

mirror the terms an individual uses for

themselves but also keep in mind that

there may be a generational gap

regarding how the word queer is

perceived so let's sum up sex gender and

sexual orientation are related but

distinct concepts sex refers to whether

a person is male female or intersex

which means they don't quite fall into

either category sex is dependent upon

external genitalia internal reproductive

organs and the sex chromosomes gender

refers to whether a person is a man or

woman or a category which falls outside

the to gender dichotomy which might be

referred to as gender queer or

non-binary individuals whose gender

matches their sex assigned at Birth are

referred to as cisgender while those

whose gender does not match their

assigned sex are referred to as

transgender gender includes the concepts

of gender identity which is once in

inhairent internal sense of being a man

woman or something different as well as

gender expression which refers to how an

individual presents themselves to those

around them sexual orientation refers to

whether a person is straight gay or

lesbian bisexual meaning attracted to

both men and women pansexual meaning

attracted to people across the

hire non-binary spectrum of sex and/or

gender or asexual meaning little

specific attraction at all

sexual orientation includes the concepts

of sexual attraction sexual behavior

romantic attraction and sexual identity

I'm going to conclude with one final

point that comes back to the caveat

about labels it's true that terms allow

us to categorize people for example I

could say that I'm a cisgender

heterosexual male but each of these

terms exists on a continuous spectrum so

there's not just twenty or thirty

different combinations of sex gender and

orientation but rather as many

combinations as there are people every

individual is unique with a combination

of thoughts emotions and experiences

that are unlike anyone elses these terms

exist as a quick shorthand but a true

understanding of another person requires

going beyond the labels casting aside

assumptions and just getting to know

them better by listening to their story

I'd like to thank members from

Stanford's LGBTQ meds student group as

well as Stanford queer student resources

for providing feedback about the script

this video is just an introduction to a

very rich and complex topic if you would

like to learn more about LGBTQ health

I recommend a Coursera course health

across the gender spectrum taught by my

Stanford colleague Maya Adam and also

the very comprehensive website for the

national LGBT health education center

which is a program of the renowned

Fenway Institute's

you