Gender: meaning, definitions and examples

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gender

[ˈdʒɛndər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

sociology

The state of being male or female, typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones.

Synonyms

femininity, masculinity, sexuality.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gender	Used in discussions about social and cultural roles, behaviors, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women. The workshop focused on gender equality in the workplace. They are researching the effects of gender on academic performance.
sexuality	Relates to a person's sexual orientation, preferences, and behaviors. Often discussed in contexts related to identity, relationships, and rights. They had an open conversation about their sexuality. Societal attitudes towards sexuality have shifted over the years.
femininity	Describes traits, behaviors, and roles that are culturally associated with being female. Often used in discussions about identity, appearance, and social roles. Her sense of femininity is expressed through her fashion choices. The movie explores traditional and modern views of femininity.
masculinity	Describes traits, behaviors, and roles that are culturally associated with being male. Often used in discussions about identity, societal expectations, and stereotypes. The documentary examines the concept of toxic masculinity. His idea of masculinity includes being strong and independent.

Examples of usage

Gender plays a significant role in shaping societal norms and expectations.
In many cultures, gender roles are clearly defined and strictly adhered to.
Gender equality is an important goal for many organizations and governments worldwide.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

grammar

A category assigned to words to reflect some of their inherent properties.

Synonyms

grammatical gender, noun class.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gender	Use this term to refer to the social, cultural, and psychological attributes and expectations associated with being male or female. It is often discussed in topics related to identity, roles, and equality. People of different genders may experience society in diverse ways The discussion about gender roles in the workplace is ongoing
grammatical gender	Use this term when discussing languages where nouns have classifications that affect the form of other words, like adjectives or articles, within a sentence. In Spanish, grammatical gender affects how adjectives agree with nouns Learning French requires understanding its grammatical gender system
noun class	Applicable in a linguistic context when discussing languages where nouns are divided into various categories beyond just grammatical gender, sometimes based on the meaning or form of the noun. Swahili uses a noun class system that categorizes nouns into multiple groups Understanding the noun class system is essential for mastering Bantu languages

Word

Description / Examples

gender

Use this term to refer to the social, cultural, and psychological attributes and expectations associated with being male or female. It is often discussed in topics related to identity, roles, and equality.

People of different genders may experience society in diverse ways
The discussion about gender roles in the workplace is ongoing

grammatical gender

Use this term when discussing languages where nouns have classifications that affect the form of other words, like adjectives or articles, within a sentence.

In Spanish, grammatical gender affects how adjectives agree with nouns
Learning French requires understanding its grammatical gender system

noun class

Applicable in a linguistic context when discussing languages where nouns are divided into various categories beyond just grammatical gender, sometimes based on the meaning or form of the noun.

Swahili uses a noun class system that categorizes nouns into multiple groups
Understanding the noun class system is essential for mastering Bantu languages

Examples of usage

In some languages, gender determines the form of nouns and pronouns.
French and Spanish are languages that have grammatical gender.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

rare

To assign a gender to someone or something.

Synonyms

categorize, classify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
gender	Commonly used when referring to the social and cultural differences between sexes or to describe someone's identity as female, male, or non-binary. The term is often used in discussions about equality, identity and social sciences. Her gender is listed as female on her birth certificate. Gender equality is a fundamental human right.
classify	Often used in scientific and formal contexts to arrange items into groups based on shared characteristics. This term can also have a formal or official connotation. Scientists classify plants into different species. These documents are classified as top secret.
categorize	Used when sorting or arranging items, ideas, or people into different groups based on specific characteristics. Generally applied in educational, scientific, and organizational settings. The librarian will categorize the new books by genre. We need to categorize these reports by date.

Word

Description / Examples

gender

Commonly used when referring to the social and cultural differences between sexes or to describe someone's identity as female, male, or non-binary. The term is often used in discussions about equality, identity and social sciences.

Her gender is listed as female on her birth certificate.
Gender equality is a fundamental human right.

classify

Often used in scientific and formal contexts to arrange items into groups based on shared characteristics. This term can also have a formal or official connotation.

Scientists classify plants into different species.
These documents are classified as top secret.

categorize

Used when sorting or arranging items, ideas, or people into different groups based on specific characteristics. Generally applied in educational, scientific, and organizational settings.

The librarian will categorize the new books by genre.
We need to categorize these reports by date.

Examples of usage

The author decided to gender the characters in the novel to challenge traditional stereotypes.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'gender', meaning 'kind' or 'type', showcasing how it categorizes people.
It was first used in the English language in the late 14th century, originally relating to grammatical classifications.
Over time, its meaning expanded from language terminology to social identities.

Cultural Perspectives

Many cultures recognize more than two genders, like the hijra community in South Asia and Two-Spirit individuals among some Indigenous peoples in North America.
The concept of gender has evolved, and many societies are starting to embrace non-binary identities along with traditional male and female categories.
In some cultures, traditional roles linked to gender dictate how men and women interact and participate in society.

Psychology

Research shows that gender identity can differ from biological sex and involves complex feelings and experiences.
Children often begin to identify with a gender around the age of 2-3, highlighting the early formation of gender identity.
Mental health studies indicate that individuals who do not conform to traditional gender roles may experience higher levels of anxiety and depression.

Education

Schools are increasingly focusing on gender sensitivity training to create an inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their gender identity.
Curricula are expanding to include discussions about gender fluidity and the social constructs surrounding it.
Educational materials are being revised to avoid stereotypes and provide a more equitable representation of all genders.

Pop Culture

Media representations of gender have evolved, with many TV shows and movies now showcasing diverse characters that break traditional gender norms.
Influential figures in pop culture, like musicians and actors, have brought awareness to gender issues, promoting acceptance and understanding.
Contemporary literature often features non-binary and genderqueer characters, reflecting the shifting perceptions of gender in society.

Translations

Translations of the word "gender" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gênero

🇮🇳 लिंग

🇩🇪 Geschlecht

🇮🇩 jenis kelamin

🇺🇦 гендер

🇵🇱 płeć

🇯🇵 性別 (せいべつ)

🇫🇷 genre

🇪🇸 género

🇹🇷 cinsiyet

🇰🇷 성별

🇸🇦 جنس

🇨🇿 pohlaví

🇸🇰 pohlavie

🇨🇳 性别 (xìngbié)

🇸🇮 spol

🇮🇸 kyn

🇰🇿 жыныс

🇬🇪 სქესი

🇦🇿 cins

🇲🇽 género

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,298, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.

...
3295 manage
3296 prime
3297 prevented
3298 gender
3299 likewise
3300 register
3301 regulatory
...