At the present time - 2022 - there is much in the media about the issues of gender and sex. These are also topics that generate a lot of (sometimes heated) discussion. So this post aims to clarify some of this area.
Sex (Definition): Either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Sexual Orientation (Definition): An enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender (heterosexual), the same sex or gender (homosexual), or to both sexes and more than one gender (bisexual). The lack of sexual attraction to others (asexuality) is sometimes defined as a fourth category. (Wikipedia)
Sex: Your birth certificate is the document that records the sex (male or female) of a child born in the UK. This information is given to the local Registrar by the person registering the birth, usually one of the parents, along with the forenames that have been chosen for the child.
For the vast majority of births, the physical sex of the child is obvious as either male or female. For a very rare number, the sex of the child is indeterminate or where there are intersex traits. It is estimated that this occurs once in every 1,500 births, In these cases the General Register Office advice is that registration is deferred until medical investigations are complete.
Tests typically include testing chromosomes, hormones and internal organs. Test results do not always indicate male or female, but can be on a sliding scale between the two. Ultimately the sex chosen for an intersex baby is the one doctors and their family believe they will grow up to identify with best. In past years, surgery was typically the first thing to do, but many now feel this should be delayed.
To further complicate matters, some Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) are not obvious from external appearance and are only identified later when a child needs surgery (e.g. for a hernia) or hormone testing for other reasons.
Sexual orientation: It is only possible to estimate the proportions of a population that identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual by using the statistics from national surveys and censuses. In the UK in 2019, an estimated 1.4 million people aged 16 or over identified as LGB; this was around 2.7% of a population of c. 67.1 million.
There are differences in age groups. While 2.7% of those aged 16 and over identify as LGB, the proportion of all 16 to 24 year old's identifying as LGB is around 6.6%. Possible reasons for this pattern are that younger people could be more likely to explore their sexuality, combined with more social acceptance of different sexual identities and the expression of these today. However, for the first time, older people (aged 65 years and over) also showed an increase in those identifying as LGB (from 0.7% in 2018 up to 1.0% in 2019).
Source: UK Office for National Statistics. NB: Since these figures have not been collected in the past, it is not clear what proportion of those aged 16-24 will continue to identify as LGB as they progress through adolescence.)
Transgender (Definition): Transgender people have a gender identity or expression that differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term may also be used to refer to people who are non-binary or genderqueer, and to cross-dressers. Being transgender is distinct from sexual orientation. (Wikipedia) Some transgender people undergo surgery hormone treatment and lifelong hormone treatment to 'become' the other gender. However, genetically their body cells will remain female or male, which may have other health implications.
Transsexual (Definition): People who desire medical assistance (hormone treatment and surgery) to transition to the physical characteristics of another sex. (Wikipedia)
Human Biology
Genetics and DNA have revealed that humans are not just born male and female. There are at least six biological sexes that can result in fairly normal lifespans. (In addition there are other 'sexes' that result in spontaneous abortion as the body identifies the foetus as non-viable.)
Even today, people think of someone as a 'man' if they look masculine and as a 'woman' if they look feminine. This can lead to some significant misunderstandings of how the world actually works.
- Mokgadi Caster Semenya: An intersex woman, assigned female at birth and has always lived as a woman, with XY chromosomes and naturally elevated testosterone levels. However as a runner, other competitors felt her higher testosterone levels gave her an unfair advantage over XX women. 2018: The international athletics federation, announced new rules to apply only to those with the 46,XY karyotype, who are now required to lower their testosterone levels in order to compete in the female classification. The medication taken can have side effects.
- Transgender male to female competing in women's events. More and more male-to-female athletes are competing in women's competitions, creating a dilemma for all involved. Such athletes have been allowed to compete in women's Olympic events since 2012 on condition that this is after castration and two years of hormone therapy. However, others feel that they still have an advantage of the benefit of more androgen for their first 20 years of growth, with a male type skeleton and musculature. It is also likely that a male athlete will have a male brain, since developing foetuses have male imprinting of the brain, which does not go away after androgen supression and sex change surgery.
- XX = Most common form of Female
- XY = Most common form of Male
- X = Turner's syndrome (roughly 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 5,000 births). This chromosome variation happens randomly when the baby is conceived. It is not linked to the mother's age. These females tend to be shorter than average, and have under-developed ovaries. Most likely to be diagnosed between the ages of 8 to 14.
- XXY = Kleinfelter syndrome (roughly 1 in 500 or 1 in 1,000 births). Males are born with an extra X chromosome. Many of them are unaware they have the extra chromosome. Infertility tends to be the main problem.
- XYY = Jacob's syndrome (roughly 1 in 1,000 births). Affected individuals are usually very tall. Many experience severe acne during adolescence, and other symptoms may include learning disabilities and behavioural problems such as impulsivity.
- XXXY = (roughly 1 in 18,000 to 1 in 50,000 births). Characterized by the presence of 2 extra X chomosomes in males. Sometimes referred to as a variant of Klinefelter syndrome, but differs from that and is more severe. Signs and symptoms vary but include learning difficulties, intellectual disability, low muscle tone, delayed growth, distinctive facial features and various birth defects that may affect the genital and musculoskeletal systems. Many have poorly developed social skills and delayed language development. The condition is not inherited and likely results from a random error in cell division.
