Sex and gender constitute one of the most fundamental functions of our society. Gender helps delineate tasks and how we relate to people, and is reinforced for us throughout our lives (Lorber 2006). Gender interacts with sex in different ways (Disch 2006). Those who are not strictly heterosexual, male or female, are not easily accepted and face adversity when they change their gender and defy gender. It has long been questioned whether there is a difference between sex and gender, and if so, what that difference is. In recent years, it has been suggested that sex is a purely biological term and that gender is socially constructed, or defined and enforced by society. Sex is assigned at birth based on genitalia, and generally sex is determined by sex. If parents learn that their baby is a girl, they will reinforce traditional female stereotypes for the rest of her life. Society and her peers will also help to strengthen her gender as she begins to spend more time outside of her immediate family. In this way, gender is a process, whereas sex is simply a static characteristic based on a person's physical appearance. The more dynamic process of gender, however, defines “man” and “woman,” learns to see and internalize what is expected of one's gender, and to act according to those expectations (Lorber 2006). the gender is the same (a woman with a vagina or a man with a penis), one is cissexual or not transgender. However, when one is born with inappropriate sexual equipment, one is transgender, or someone who feels one gender but possesses the sexual organs of the other. The misalignment of sexual and gender identities raises a puzzling question. If gender is based solely on a person's genitals, as a biological determinant...... middle of paper ...... avoid them as I look at the world from other perspectives . It's still hard to avoid this white privilege when looking at the world around me, but I've realized how lucky I am and am more interested in those who don't look like me. I look forward to learning more about the diversity of our world throughout the rest of this course.Works CitedAssociated Press. 2005. “Boi or grrl? Pop culture is redefining gender. MSNBC, October 1. Accessed October 13, 2007 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9556134/). Goldberg, Alan. (Producer). April 25, 2007. 20/20: My Secret Self [Television broadcast]. ABC News. Lane, Ruth. 2007. “The book excels in gender issues: encouraging the student to identify and cope with changes. » The Spectator, September 27, 6B.Lauer, Jeanette C. and Robert H. Lauer. 2006. Social problems and quality of life. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.