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What Is Gender? The concept of "gender" has not been well defined and is not well understood. The definition of gender has even been the subject of exhaustive debate, including at a special United Nations session in connection with the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Gender is often confused with sex. However, sex generally refers to biology and anatomy. People are said to be of the male sex or the female sex, as determined by three sets of characteristics: external sex organs, internal sex organs, and secondary sexual development at puberty. The word sex is also used to mean sexual intercourse or activity. By contrast, gender refers to a set of qualities and behaviors expected from a female or male by society. Gender roles are learned and can be affected by factors such as education or economics. They vary widely within and among cultures. While an individual's sex does not change, gender roles are socially determined and can evolve over time. Gender roles and expectations are often identified as factors hindering the equal rights and status of women with adverse consequences that affect life, family, socioeconomic status, and health. For this reason, gender, like sexuality, is an important element of family planning and reproductive health services. FROM: http://www.engenderhealth.org/wh/sg/egwhat.html What is sexuality? Sexuality is a complex aspect of our personality and 'self'. Our sexuality is defined by sexual thoughts, desires and longings, erotic fantasies, turn-ons and experiences. In many ways sexuality is the force that empowers us to express and display strong, emotional feelings for another person and is a natural stimulus for the procreation of our species. The 'thing' that attracts one person to another may not always be sexual - it could be sense of humor, personality, 'likeability', compatibility, or intelligence. Sex or sexuality may only be a secondary consideration. Sometimes, part of our sexuality can be suppressed - some people have sexual desires about particular friends or associates, but don't act on or talk about those desires. Others have general sexual desires or fantasies about people of their own sex (that is, same sex), but don't explore or discuss those thoughts and feelings. Sexuality and prejudice Until recently, society's intolerance towards anyone who was not of the sexual 'norm', caused many people to repress their real sexuality. That is, many who knew and felt strongly they were gay remained 'in the closet' so as not to come up against prejudice, 'anti-gay' sentiments, discrimination and even violence. Various prejudices - against race, colour, religion, sex and sexual orientation - have softened over the last 20 years. However, some people (and governments) have remained hard-line and continue to discriminate against particular people for various reasons. No one has yet discovered positively the cause or causes of a person's sexuality - whether it be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Sexuality is complex Not all aspects of sexual behavior conform to simple labels. You could consider sexuality like a fruit salad or smorgasbord - there are lots of flavors, different ingredients, a variety of tastes and appearances. One man might label himself straight, be turned on by women and not by men, but may enjoy wearing women's clothes and might also enjoy his female partner stimulating him anally with a dildo. Most of those men who consider themselves gay have no interest in wearing women's clothes. Some gay and straight men do enjoy wearing women's clothes. Some lesbian women appear 'masculine', many others appear 'feminine'. Some men who are considered 'effeminate' are straight, others are not. Some men who look tough and 'manly' are gay, others are not. Some women enjoy sleeping with men or women or both sexes, as do some men. Sexuality: what am I? Many people have occasional erotic feelings for or dreams about people of the same sex - but their general disposition may be heterosexual. These occasional homosexual feelings may not affect their relationship with a partner of the opposite sex. Sometimes - because of pressure from our peers or society in general sexual desires and feelings will be suppressed as we try to will ourselves to have other, 'normal' or more accepted sexual feelings. For many, these suppressed feelings can cause pressures that become problematic - forcing some to avoid any sexual encounters, or to lie to a partner (and themselves). Suppressed feelings can lead to anonymous sexual relations with a person of the same sex while maintaining a relationship with someone of the opposite sex. What is sexual orientation? Sexual orientation is determined by the sex or sexes you are romantically, physically, emotionally, and sexually attracted to. Heterosexuals are individuals attracted to the opposite sex, homosexuals are individuals who are attracted to the same sex, while bisexuals are people who are attracted to both sexes. Homosexual men are usually referred to as gay while homosexual women are referred to as lesbians.