sex

Examples of sex in the following topics:

• Human Sex-Linked Disorders

• Sex Determination

  • Mammalian sex is determined genetically by the presence of X and Y chromosomes .
  • This is referred to as environmental sex determination or, more specifically, as temperature-dependent sex determination.
  • In some species, sex is both genetic- and temperature-dependent.
  • The presence of X and Y chromosomes are one of the factors responsible for sex determination in mammals, with males being the heterozygous sex.
  • In birds, Z and W chromosomes determine sex, with females being the heterozygous sex.

• Defining Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

  • But have you ever been asked to provide your sex and your gender?
  • It may not have occurred to you that sex and gender are not the same.
  • Sex includes both primary sex characteristics (those related to the reproductive system) and secondary sex characteristics (those that are not directly related to the reproductive system, such as breasts and facial hair).
  • Typically, babies born with male sex characteristics (sex) are assigned as boys (gender); babies born with female sex characteristics (sex) are assigned as girls (gender). 
  • In humans, sex is typically divided into male, female, or intersex (i.e., having some combination of male and female sex characteristics).

• The Role of Biology

  • It is important to distinguish between sex and gender.
  • Sex refers to a person's biological make-up as male or female.
  • Scientists have linked a person's 23rd chromosome to the development of a sexed phenotype.
  • Male and female are generally understood as discrete categories, often referred to as "opposite" sexes.
  • Is this a question of sex, gender or simply sexism?

• The 19th Amendment

  • The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote based on sex.
  • The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

• Sex and Physiology

  • Sex is biologically determined based on chromosomes, hormones, gonads, internal reproductive anatomy, and external genitalia.
  • "Sex" refers to physiological differences between male, female, and intersex bodies.
  • A person's sex includes both primary sex characteristics (those that are related to the reproductive system) and secondary sex characteristics (those unrelated to the reproductive system, such as breasts and facial hair).
  • In humans, biological sex is determined at birth, typically by doctors, through the observance of five factors:
  • In humans, sex is typically divided into male, female, or intersex.

• Cultural Influences on Sexual Motivation

  • As discussed in the previous concept, hormones such as testosterone and estrogen affect the sex drive biologically.
  • The American researcher Alfred Kinsey was also a major influence in changing 20th century attitudes about sex, and the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction continues to be a major center for the study of human sexuality.
  • Some religions view sex as a sacred act between a man and a woman that should only be performed within marriage; other religions view certain kinds of sex as shameful or sinful, or stress that sex should only be engaged in for the purpose of procreation.
  • People have very differing views about how, what, when, and by whom children should be taught about sex.
  • Various psychological factors can also influence one's motivation for sex.

• Sex-Linked Traits

  • A gene present on one of the sex chromosomes (X or Y in mammals) is a sex-linked trait because its expression depends on the sex of the individual.
  • In humans, as well as in many other animals and some plants, the sex of the individual is determined by sex chromosomes.
  • However, there are other sex determination systems in nature.
  • For example, temperature-dependent sex determination is relatively common, and there are many other types of environmental sex determination.
  • The sex chromosomes are one pair of non-homologous chromosomes.

• Human Sexuality and Culture

  • Sexuality differs from biological sex, in that "sexuality" refers to the capacity for sexual feelings and attraction, while "biological sex" refers to how one's anatomy, physiology, hormones, and genetics are classified (typically as male, female, or intersex).
  • Societies that value monogamy, for example, are likely to oppose extramarital sex.
  • Some religions view sex as a sacred act between a man and a woman that should only be performed within marriage; other religions view certain kinds of sex as shameful or sinful, or stress that sex should only be engaged in for the purpose of procreation.
  • American culture is particularly restrictive in its attitudes about sex when it comes to women and sexuality.
  • People have very differing views about how, what, when, and by whom children should be taught about sex.

• Sexual Orientation

  • Sexual orientation refers to enduring emotional, romantic and sexual attraction to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither.
  • Sexual orientation describes an enduring pattern of attraction—emotional, romantic, sexual, or some combination of these—to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither.
  • Some of these institutions offer sexual reorientation therapies in which individuals who are attracted to members of the opposite sex but do not want to have those attractions can try to become solely attracted to members of the opposite biological sex.
  • Venn diagram depicting the relationships between assigned sex and sexual orientation.
  • Androphilia and gynephilia are preferred terms for some populations, because homosexual and heterosexual assign a sex to the person being described.