- Definition
Sex refers to whether someone is biologically male or female, based on their body parts and genes.
When a baby is born, a doctor looks at their body to identify their sex as male or female.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Sex is one word people may use when talking about biological traits. Gender is about a person's own identity and how they may express it.
Ask your child: What are respectful ways to talk about people whose experiences or identities may be different from ours?
Common mix-up: Sex and gender are related but not the same. Bodies and identities vary, and people deserve to be referred to in ways that respect who they are.
Examples
- In many animals, like lions, the male and female have different physical features.
- Official documents like a birth certificate often list a person's sex.
sex is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
