SEX vs. GENDER
| SEX | GENDER |
| Biological characteristics (including genetics, anatomy and physiology) that generally define humans as female or male. Note that these biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive; however, there are individuals who possess both male and female characteristics. | Socially constructed set of roles and responsibilities associated with being girl and boy or women and men, and in some cultures a third or other gender. |
| Born with. | Not born with. |
| Natural. | Learned. |
| Universal, A-historical: No variation from culture to culture or time to time | Gender roles vary greatly in different societies, cultures and historical periods as well as they depend also on socio-economic factors, age, education, ethnicity and religion.. |
| Cannot be changed, except with the medical treatment. | Although deeply rooted, gender roles can be changed over time, since social values and norms are not static. |
| Example: Only women can give birth. Only women can breastfeed. | Example: The expectation of men to be economic providers of the family and for women to be caregivers is a gender norm in many cultural contexts. However, women prove able to do traditionally male jobs as well as men (e.g. men and women can do housework; men and women can be leaders and managers). |
NOTE: At birth, the difference between boys and girls is their sex; as they grow up society gives them different roles, attributes, opportunities, privileges and rights that in the end create the social differences between men and women.
GENDER EQUALITY vs. GENDER EQUITY
| GENDER EQUALITY | GENDER EQUITY |
| The state or condition that affords women and men equal enjoyment of human rights, socially valued goods, opportunities and resources, allowing both sexes the same opportunities and potential to contribute to, and benefit from, all spheres of society (economic, political, social, and cultural). | Justice and fairness in the treatment of women and men in order to eventually achieve gender equality, often requesting differential treatment of women and men (or specific measures) in order to compensate for the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from sharing a level playing field. |
| Example: A family has limited funds, and both daughter and son need new pair of shoes for the new school year, but only one can get new shoes this year. If the family decides (and who in the family decides?) which child will get the new shoes based on the child’s NEED, and not on the child’s sex, this is an example of gender equality. | Example: Provision of leadership training for women or establishing quotas for women in decision-making positions in order to achieve the state of gender equality. |
NOTE: Equity leads to equality! Equity means that there is a need to continue taking differential actions to address historical inequality among men and women and achieve gender equality.
ADDITIONAL POINTERS-
- The gender gap is the difference in any area between women and men in terms of their levels of participation, access to resources, rights, power and influence, remuneration and benefits. Of particular relevance related to women’s work is the “gender pay gap”, describing the difference between the average earnings of men and women (ILO, 2007).
- Patterns of inequalities
- Inequalities in political power and representation: Women are often underrepresented in formal decision-making structures, including governments, community councils, and policy-making institutions.
- Inequalities in economic participation and opportunities: In most countries, women and men are distributed differently across sectors. Women are receiving lower wages for similar work, are more likely to be in low-paid jobs and unsecured work (part-time, temporary, home-based) and are likely to have less access than men to productive assets such as education, skills, property and credit.
- Educational attainment: In most countries women have lower literacy rate, lower level of enrolment in primary, secondary and tertiary education.
- Sexual and domestic violence: Women tend to be more often victims in a form a domestic violence by woman’s intimate partner, sexual exploitation through trafficking and sex trade, in wars by an enemy army as a weapon of attempted ‘ethnic cleansing’ etc.
- Differences in legal status and entitlements: There are many instances in which equal rights to personal status, security, land, inheritance and employment opportunities are denied to women by law or practice.
- Achieving greater equality between women and men will require changes at many levels, including changes in attitudes and relationships, changes in institutions and legal frameworks, changes in economic institutions, and changes in political decision-making structures.
- Gender Expression: The external display of one’s gender, through a combination of how they dress, how they act and other factors, generally measured on scales of masculinity and femininity.
- Women’s rights: Entitlements that women have on the basis that they are human. Normatively based in several international human rights documents (e.g. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)). Arranged around the concept of duty bearer and rights holder.
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): The convention commits state parties that are signatories to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put their provisions into practice.
- The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: The outcome document of the Fourth World Conference on Women in September 1995, considered as blueprint for improving position of women and advancing women’s rights.
Related MCQs
- Harappa is located on the banks of which river? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
- Sutlej River
- Chenab River
- Ravi River
- Indus River
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Permanent hardness of water is due to the presence of? (CSS 2014 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Calcium bicarbonate
- Magnesium bicarbonate
- Calcium sulphate
- Sodium bicarbonate
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Hazrat Bilal (رضی اللّٰہ عنہ) was born as a slave and his master was ______ who was head of Banu Jumah? (CSS 2021 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Umayyah ibn Khalaf
- Umayya ibn Abd Shams
- Umayya wa-Bani Hashim
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Cobalt is a material which is? (CSS 2010 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Strongly attracted by a magnet
- Not attracted by a magnet
- Not a magnet
- Weakly attracted by a magnet
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Kashmir sold to Gulab Singh in? (CSS 2015 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- 1845
- 1846
- 1890
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The current US Secretary of State is? (CSS 2022 Current Affairs Paper)
- Mike Pompeo
- Antony J. Blinken
- Lloyd James Austin
- None of the above.
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Salat-U-Khusoof Is The Prayer For? (CSS 2018 Islamic Studies Paper)
- The prayer for seeking rain
- Prayer performed during a lunar eclipse
- Both (a) & (b)
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- when Abu ala Maududi was awarded death punishment by military court on\"qadiani issue\"? (CSS 2010 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- March 1953
- April 1953
- May 1953
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The heads of Zakat are? (CSS 2013 Islamic Studies Paper)
- 8
- 9
- 7
- 5
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The Killer Mountain is? (CSS 2014 Current Affairs Paper)
- K2
- Nanga Parbat
- Kangchenjunga
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"DELUGE\" is? (CSS 2013 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Drown
- Rescue
- Immerse
- Overflow
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Iranian morality police who killed Mahsa Amini is named as? (CSS 2023 Current Affairs Paper)
- The Basij
- The Artesh
- Gasht-e-Ershaad
- None of these options
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- which two prayers are emphasized? (CSS 2020 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Fajar and zuhr
- Fajar and asr
- Asr and isha
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"CAGEY\" is? (CSS 2018 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Open
- Naive
- Frank
- Reticent
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Tarjman Al-Qur\'an is the title of Companion? (CSS 2024 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Abdullah bin Abbas
- Muaz bin Jab
- Abdullah bin Masood
- Usman bin Affan
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"SAMIZDAT\" is? (CSS 2006 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Twirling jig
- Secret police
- Underground press
- Large metal tea urn
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Which amendment declared Qadiani as Non- Muslims? (CSS 2022 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 4th
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The Alpha particles are compact clusters of? (CSS 2013 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Electrons and Protons
- Two Protons and two Neutrons
- Three Protons and three Neutrons
- None of these given options
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Which of the following cannot be considered As the renewable source of energy? (CSS 2022 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Petroleum
- Wind
- Solar
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- When was the 17th amendment bill ratified by the president, after getting passed by both houses of majlis e shura? (CSS 2010 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- Dec29,2003
- Dec30,2003
- Dec31,2003
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The Axis powers in World War II did not include? (CSS 2013 Current Affairs Paper)
- Germany
- the Soviet Union
- Italy
- Japan
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Queen Saba was the ruler of? (CSS 2016 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Egypt
- Syria
- Yamen
- Taif
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"FLAGRANT\" is? (CSS 2015 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Brazen
- Common
- Clerical
- Expensive
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Chemical name of Table salt is? (CSS 2015 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Ammonium chloride
- Sodium nitrate
- Calcium chlorid
- Sodium chloride
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"RESURGENT\" is? (CSS 1992 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Fading
- Fertile
- Rising again
- Revolutionary
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team