Sex, Gender and Identity.

• RSE
• Special Education

Sex, Gender and Identity.

Learning objective

I am learning to understand the terms sex, gender and identity and how they differ from each other. 

What does the term 'sex' mean?

Sex refers to the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc. 

When children are born, sex is assigned based on external genitalia. A child who has a penis is said to be male. A child who has a vulva is said to be female.

 

Identity can mean different things to different people. It might be about who you hang out with, what music you listen to, where you live or what ethnicity you are. Simply put – your identity is 'who you are'.

What biological sex are you?
(Male or female)

What does the term 'gender' mean?

The term gender refers to the characteristics of boys and girls, men and women, that are socially constructed. This is different from the term biological sex, which refers to the body parts we have. Behaviours, roles and the way people dress can all be determined by socially constructed gender norms.

It is how you feel inside your body and can be diferent to your biological sex.

What does the term 'identity' mean?

Identity can mean different things to different people. It might be about who you hang out with, what music you listen to, where you live or what ethnicity you are. 

Simply put – your identity is 'who you are'.

What can make up your identity?

• This could be the way you look (height, weight, eye colour, hair colour, build etc.
• Your interests and hobbies (the things you enjoy doing eg. listening to music, gaming, going shopping, having your nails done, playing with friends, watching YouTube etc)
• Your beliefs and values (what things or people are important to you) 
• Your sexuality (hetrosexual or LGBTQ+)

What sort of things can make up a person's 'identity'?

What makes you 'YOU'?
List as many things as you can.

Which of the following best describes your biological sex?

1. How you feel inside
2. The body parts you were born with
3. Your hobbies
4. Your religious beliefs

Which of the following best descibes a person's gender?

1. The body parts they were born with
2. Their hobbies/interests
3. How they feel inside which can be different to their sex
4. Their religious beliefs

Which of the following would be linked to a person's identity?

1. Eye colour
2. Weight
3. Hobbies/interests
4. All of the above

Sex

Gender

Identity

The body parts you were born with

How you feel inside

Can be different to your sex

Born with a penis or vulva

Your hobbies/interests

Activity 1: Sex, Gender & Identity worksheets

Fill in the blanks using the word bank to help you. 

(Some worksheets have the first letter of each missing word filled in to help)

Activity 2

Draw a picture of yourself and describe yourself in the boxes around your picture in terms of:

Your physical appearance (hair colour, eye colour, height etc)

Your personality traits (funny, stubborn, grumpy, happy etc)

Your family (siblings etc)

Your hobbies/interests

Your beliefs

What you are good at.

What you like about yourself