12.1 Sex and Gender
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The terms sex and gender refer to two different identifiers. Sex denotes biological characteristics differentiating males
and females, while gender denotes social and cultural characteristics of masculine and feminine behavior. Sex and gender
are not always synchronous. Individuals who strongly identify with the opposing gender are considered transgender.
12.2 Gender
Children become aware of gender roles in their earliest years, and they come to understand and perform these roles
through socialization, which occurs through four major agents: family, education, peer groups, and mass media.
Socialization into narrowly prescribed gender roles results in the stratification of males and females. Each sociological
perspective offers a valuable view for understanding how and why gender inequality occurs in our society.
12.3 Sex and Sexuality
When studying sex and sexuality, sociologists focus their attention on sexual attitudes and practices, not on physiology or
anatomy. Norms regarding gender and sexuality vary across cultures. In general, the United States tends to be fairly
conservative in its sexual attitudes. As a result, homosexuals continue to face opposition and discrimination in most major
social institutions.