The social and cultural roles, behaviors, and identities related to being male, female, both, neither, or something else; in grammar, a way of grouping nouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter.
From Old French *gendre* and Latin *genus* meaning “kind, sort, type.” It originally referred to grammatical classes of nouns, not people. Over time, it expanded to describe social and identity aspects of being male, female, and beyond, distinct from biological sex.
For centuries, ‘gender’ was mostly a grammar word about nouns, not people. Modern use split ‘sex’ (biology) from ‘gender’ (social identity and roles), showing how language lets us separate body facts from lived experience. The word’s journey mirrors society’s changing understanding of identity.
"Gender" historically was used in grammar and then extended to social roles, often conflated with biological sex and used to justify unequal treatment of women and other genders. Over time, it has become a key term in discussions of identity, rights, and social structures, revealing and challenging long-standing biases.
Use "gender" precisely, distinguishing it from biological sex where relevant, and recognize non-binary and gender-diverse identities. Avoid assuming gender from names, voices, or roles, and ask or use self-described pronouns when possible.
When discussing gender systems, acknowledge how women and gender-diverse people have critiqued and reshaped institutions, language, and policies around gender.
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