Defining Gender

In addition to race and ethnicity, gender is one of “the big three” often discussed regarding diversity in the female-dominated public relations profession.

As race and ethnicity sometimes are used as synonyms, gender and sex also are confused. The Associated Press Stylebook notes that they are not the same.

“Gender refers to a person’s social identity, while sex refers to biological characteristics,” the AP stylebook points out, noting that everyone does not fall under these categories.

For example, a person’s sex can be male at birth, but their gender identity can be a woman.