Sex and Gender are Different (as compared to Ethnicity and Citizenship)

Whilst the majority of British citizens are white, someone being another ethnicity does not make them any less a British citizen. The distinction between ethnicity and citizenship is simple: ethnicity is a physical aspect of someone’s identity whereas citizenship is a psychological aspect of someone’s identity. Sure, the two can correlate but it’s not an exclusive relationship.

The same comparison can be made of sex and gender.

Sex, like ethnicity, is a physical aspect of someone’s identity; gender, like citizenship, is a psychological aspect of someone’s identity.

Sure, being cisgender (where one’s sex and gender are labelled the same) is most common but there’s no reason why this is the only option. Grass is a common plant but that doesn’t make it the only plant; the sky is mostly blue but this doesn’t make it the sky’s only colour. Whilst the world is getting better at recognising this separation, some people are lagging behind.

Part of the problem is that ‘male’ and ‘female’ are used to describe both sex and gender.

If we had separate words, the distinction would be easier to make. Arguments occur because ‘male/female’ are used to describe gender by one person and sex by another.

In essence, they’re arguing over separate things. Yet this isn’t an excuse: it’s the individual’s prerogative to decide how they identify, not that of anyone else. If someone chooses to identify by their gender identity, let them.

If it isn’t hurting anyone then it’s not a problem. It’s as simple as that.

Some complain, saying this sex-gender differentiation means ‘men can’t be men’. Not so. The whole point is that no-one’s identity is denied.

It’s encouraging men to be men, women to be women and anyone to be who they are. It’s the individual’s prerogative to have free will over their mind and body. Be what you want. If a strong part of your identity is your male physique then go for it. This isn’t to stop you but to encourage you, to encourage everyone.

No-one has to declare their identity to the world. It can be hard, scary and dangerous. So if you know someone who has done so, don’t make their life difficult. There’s no need for that.