This is the socio-cultural category resulting from a social process derived from the difference between men and women. This includes roles and expectations society expects with regard to behaviour, thought and characteristics resulting from someone’s biological sex. In this context, expectations about how men and women should behave contribute to building a conception of gender and this can vary according to local cultures.

Even when used to refer to the psychological meaning of the personal self, as distinct from someone’s biological sex, gender is, therefore, based on, or refers to, biological sex. In fact, not everyone of the same sex experiences their gender or lives in the same way. Despite there being multiple ways of being ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’, each is based on the individual’s biological heritage.

Gender incongruence

“In common use, this refers to a felt difference between one’s sex and one’s gender causing a feeling of discomfort or ‘mismatch’. When this discomfort causes distress such that it prevents one from functioning well, the term ‘gender dysphoria’ is often used.” (acc. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Created and Loved: A guide for Catholic schools on identity and gender))