The concepts “sex” and “gender” may be defined as follows: “Sex” refers to the biological differences between women and men. They are generally permanent and universal. “Gender” refers to the socially constructed roles and responsibilities of women and men, in a given culture or location. These roles are influenced by perceptions and expectations arising from cultural, political, environmental, economic, social, and religious factors, as well as custom, law, class, ethnicity, and individual or institutional bias. Gender attitudes and behaviors are learned and can be changed.
What are some of the situations in which we see gender differences? Social: Different perceptions of women’s and men’s social roles: the man seen as head of the household and chief bread-winner; the woman seen as nurturer and care-giver. Political: Differences in the ways in which women and men assume and share power and authority: men more involved in national- and higher-level politics; women more involved at the local level in activities linked to their domestic roles. Educational: Differences in educational opportunities and expectations of girls and boys: family resources directed to boy’s rather than girl’s education; girls streamed into less-challenging academic tracks. Economic: Differences in women’s and men’s access to lucrative careers and control of financial and other productive resources: credit and loans; land ownership.
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