What is Gender?

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and

identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people. It is
influenced by biological sex, but is not the same thing. Gender is fluid and can
change over time.
 Gender Identity
Gender identity is a person's internal sense of being male, female,
neither, both, or somewhere along the gender spectrum. It is not
necessarily the same as the sex assigned at birth, and it can change
over time.
 Gender
Expression
Gender expression is the way a
person outwardly expresses their
gender identity, through things like
clothing, hairstyle, mannerisms, and
interests. It can be masculine,
feminine, androgynous, or something
else altogether.
 Gender Roles
Gender roles are the expectations
that society has for how people
should behave based on their
gender. These roles can vary
widely across cultures and over
time.
 Gender Equality

Is the state of equal ease of access to

resources and opportunities regardless
of gender, including economic
participation and decision-making; and
the state of valuing different behaviors,
aspirations and needs equally,
regardless of gender.
Why is Gender
Important
Gender is important because it shapes our
experiences and opportunities in life. It can
affect our access to education,
employment, healthcare, and other
resources. It can also influence our
relationships, social status, and mental
health.
Gender is a complex and multifaceted topic. It is important to
understand that gender is not just about biological sex. It is also
about social constructs, identity, and expression. Gender
equality is essential for a just and equitable society.
 legal bases for
gender developmen
 THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION
Guarantees equal protection under the law to all

people, regardless of race, color, religion, or national

origin. This protection has been interpreted by the

Supreme Court to include protection from

discrimination based on sex.

Federal
laws
A number of federal laws prohibit discrimination based on sex,
including:
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972: Prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or
activity that receives federal financial assistance.
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment.
• The Equal Pay Act of 1963: Requires that men and women
be paid equally for doing the same job.
 State and local laws
Many states and localities have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex,
including laws that specifically address gender development. For example, some
states have laws that prohibit discrimination against transgender students in
schools.
 International law
The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is a treaty that guarantees equal
rights for women and girls. CEDAW prohibits discrimination on the basis
of sex in all areas of life, including education, employment, and healthcare.
There are a number of legal bases for gender development.
These laws protect people from discrimination based on sex
and gender identity. It is important to note that the law is
constantly evolving, and new legal protections for gender
development are being developed all the time.
 History of the Gender Spectrum
The concept of a binary gender system, with
only male and female genders, is a relatively
recent invention. For most of human history,
people have recognized more than two
genders. For example, the ancient Greeks
recognized three genders: male, female, and
androgynos (a combination of male and
female). The ancient Hindus recognized five
genders: male, female, eunuch, transvestite,
and hermaphrodite.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, European scientists began to
develop the idea of a binary gender system. They argued that this
system was based on biology, with men having XY chromosomes
and women having XX chromosomes. However, we now know that
this is not always the case. There are people who are born with
intersex conditions, meaning that their chromosomes or genitalia
do not fit neatly into the male/female binary.
The term "gender spectrum" was first coined in
the 1990s to describe the wide range of gender
identities that people can have. The gender
spectrum includes people who identify as male,
female, non-binary, genderfluid, agender, and
more. It is important to note that gender is not
the same as sex. Sex is assigned at birth based
on physical characteristics, while gender is a
social construct that refers to a person's sense of
self as male, female, or something else.
 The Gender Spectrum
Is a wide range of gender identities. It includes people who identify as
male, female, non-binary, genderfluid, agender, and more. Here are
some common gender identities:

• Male: A person who identifies as male.

• Female: A person who identifies as female.
• Non-binary: A person who does not identify as either male or female.
• Genderfluid: A person whose gender identity changes over time.
• Agender: A person who does not identify with any gender.
The gender spectrum is a wide range of gender
identities. It includes people who identify as male,
female, non-binary, genderfluid, agender, and
more. Gender expression is the way that a person
expresses their gender identity to the world. Gender
expression is not always the same as gender
identity.
Thanks!