Key concepts

• Sex


  • A person's biological status as either male or female
  • Determined by one pair of sex chromosomes (XX for females, XY for males)
  • Chromosomes influence hormonal differences and differences in anatomy and reproductive organs
• Gender


  • A person's psychosocial status as masculine or feminine
  • Includes attitudes, roles and behaviours
  • Heavily influenced by social norms and cultural expectations
• Gender dysphoria


  • A sense of distress that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity
  • It can lead to depression and anxiety