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Why do people talk about a baby's gender not sex?

PatG View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:09 PM Post #1
Posts: 1,012 Joined: 8-September 11
Advanced Member
A lot of the baby name threads say something like "we aren't finding out the gender". Is it because the word sex is linked to things other than the biological options of male, female or intersex? I am of the opinion that gender is something totally different to sex....

cinnabubble View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:14 PM Post #2
Posts: 11,485 Joined: 24-April 06
I like cats, but I couldn't eat a whole one.
But sex is rude and gender is sophisticated.

HezzaB View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:15 PM Post #3
Posts: 517 Joined: 27-February 11
Regular Member
I agree I think in this context its because people don't like the sound of the word "sex". And it self-perpetuates as one person says it, and another, and it snowball into the norm.

~Supernova~ View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:16 PM Post #4
Posts: 3,499 Joined: 1-April 04
...
Well gender is technically incorrect. But honestly, who cares? It's not the end of the world!

SensibleSis View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:16 PM Post #5
Posts: 377 Joined: 8-January 04
Member
It irks me too. I think it is indeed the word 'sex.' Sex and gender are not the same. Gender is how a person identifies themselves eg male or female roles in society. One doesn't undergo a 'gender change' - they would have a sex change.

BetteBoop View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:17 PM Post #6
Posts: 11,689 Joined: 3-April 10
++
Most people don't understand there is any difference between someone's socialised gender role and the contents of their underpants. So to many people sex and gender are interchangeable.

Leeloomina View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:18 PM Post #7
Posts: 321 Joined: 7-October 09
Member
Hmm good question. I use the word sex in conversations and gender in writings such as on EB. Gender is a mouthful though compared to sex. But you are right, sex is the correct biological term, gender has a whole lot of other things thrown in.

dimensionk View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:18 PM Post #8
Posts: 1,417 Joined: 13-August 10
Advanced Member
Oh, I didn't even realise that gender is incorrect!

howdo View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:19 PM Post #9
Posts: 13,660 Joined: 10-June 06
++
Drives me nuts, OP. Sex sex sex sex sex! Just say it! Babies don't have a gender because gender is a socially constructed self identification! But sex is a naughty word, so ...

EssentialBludger View Member Profile	20/02/2013, 08:21 PM Post #10
Posts: 8,680 Joined: 9-July 08
lalalala
A lot of people don't know that there is a difference. I only know because of EB.

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