Human gender

The two sexes, male and female are almost constantly differentiated in symbolism. Beyond biological gender, symbolism also employs the behavioural attributes of masculinity and feminity.

Differentiated genders are used symbolically to indicate the normative 'mutually exclusive' roles of the sexes. They may also refer to reproduction, virility and fecundity. Sexual reversal, that is, males depicted in female dress, or as engaged in feminine activities; and female's shown in male attire or occupations or depicted with moustaches or beards may be associated with confused sex identities either on the personal or the social levels. The range of meanings includes perversion on one end of the scale and implied harmonization of opposites on the other (as also indicated by the imagery of hermaphrodites or bisexuals).

BX M Human gender Sex roles Masculinity Femininity