What does 'Gender' mean?

So what exactly is 'gender'? How is it different from 'sex'? Many times we see these words on various forms, assuming they mean the same thing. 

Sex is: "either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures." as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary (click here for Merriam-Webster's full definition).

Gender, on the other hand is: "the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex." also defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary (click here for Merriam-Webster's other definitions.)

Basically, sex is something predetermined by nature, and gender is something determined by which you associate with. Many people don't see what the big difference is between the two, but there is a term called gender dysphoria, which affects an approximated 1 in 11 500 people (National Health Service, 2012). It's more common than you think.

Gender dysphoria is described as: "a condition in which a person feels that there is a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity." (National Health Service, 2012.) Click here for more information.

I think the numbers of gender dysphoria is much higher than reported because it's such a hard issue to come forward with. Case studies are constantly being published and with it becoming a more known issue, many more are 'coming out', so to speak.

We will be looking at today's cases and discussing the issues and implications of this dysphoria.

(image taken from Freedom Requires Wings)