Answer the following terms in your own words using a sentence or two per term: Gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual orientation.

Question

Keep it simple, but have a clear distinction between each of these terms. I need this for my English homework. Please and thank you.

Answer 1

Biological sex is determined by chromosomes. If you have an X and  Y, you are biologically male. If you have two Xs, you are biologically female.

 

Gender identity is how a person sees oneself and chooses to express that identity regardless of biological sex. This can be as male, female, neither, both, or varying genders (ie, sometimes a person may feel more male and will dress in a traditionally masculine way, or feel more female and dress in a traditionally feminine way. Just be careful in assuming that male identity aligns with traditional characteristics such as short hair, pants, etc. and that female identity aligns with traditional characteristics such as long hair, dresses, painted nails, etc. These characteristics conform to what is known as the gender binary. Also, a person is cisgender when his or her gender identity aligns with biological sex, and transgender when he or she identifies with a gender that does not align with biological sex.

 

Gender expression is how a person chooses to express the gender that they identify with, however this expression doesn't need to be what we traditionally consider masculine or feminine. It's determined by the individual. I choose to express my female identity by wearing traditionally "girly" clothes and keeping my hair long; another woman may express her female identity by cutting her hair..it just depends.

 

Sexual orientation has nothing to do with gender or biological sex. Sexual orientation describes the gender to whom a person is attracted. If you identify as female, and you are attracted to people who identify as female, you may identify as a lesbian. If you identify as a male and are attracted to people who identify as female, you may identify as a heterosexual male. 

 

Hope that helps - and yes your teacher probably wants your answers but this info can be difficult to understand and even harder to find, and I think it's important to explain to each other. Good luck.