A lot of us understand biological sex with a pretty fateful underpinning: if you’re born with XX chromosomes, you’re female; if you’re born with XY chromosomes, you’re male. But it turns out, our relationship to the opposite sex is more complicated than we think
The United Nations Human Rights Council has passed its first ever resolution affirming the rights of intersex people, signaling growing international resolve to address rights violations experienced by people born with variations in their sex characteristics.
The embryo is tiny, still invisible to the naked eye. But inside it, an epic struggle plays out, as a nomadic band of cells marches toward a mysterious destiny, with the future of humanity resting on their microscopic shoulders.
Scientifically speaking, animals with the capacity to produce ova are generally called “female” and sperm producers “male.” While most animal species fall into the “two types of gametes produced by two versions of the reproductive tract” model, many don’t.
Sex (from the Open Education Sociology Dictionary ):
Sexual Development (from the Social Work Dictionary):
Sexuality (from the Social Work Dictionary):
Why do social workers need to know about biological sex?
In the social work context, "sex" refers to the biological and physical attributes typically associated with being male or female, including reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, and hormones. It is important to recognize that while sex is often categorized as male or female, there are individuals who may have intersex traits, meaning their biological characteristics do not fit conventional definitions of male or female. Social workers understand that the distinction between sex and gender is critical, as sex pertains to biological factors, while gender relates to social and cultural roles, expectations, and identities. When working with client, social workers consider how societal norms, health, and access to care may intersect with issues related to sex and the diverse ways that individuals experience and express their bodies and sexuality. They also strive to support clients in environments that are affirming and inclusive of all sex characteristics, and advocate for the rights of those who may experience discrimination based on their sex or biological traits.
The design of this page was partly adapted from Research: By Course, Subject, or Topic, by University of Arizona Libraries, © 2020 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of The University of Arizona, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
