"A man is a man and a woman is a woman." Rishi Sunak's words were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience at the Conservative PartyA British political party. Members are known as Tories. conference.

There was a very different response from transgender rights activists. They fear that such words could fuel hate crimes against the approximately 260,000 transgender individuals in Britain. "If you don't acknowledge a group of people exist," declared prominent transgender newsreader India Willoughby, "then obviously that group of people don't have rights."

This debate raises a crucial question: is gender determined by biology or is it a social construct that can be changed?

The notion that gender is a social construct implies that societal and cultural influences, rather than just biology, shape gender roles and identities. It is a position supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which stated in 2023 that "gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed". This includes "norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other".

Some argue that differences in behaviour between men and women stem from biological disparities, such as chromosomalNearly all human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which store our genetic information. variations and differences in hormones.¹ They suggest that these differences explain why women are often expected in society to be nurturing and care for children.

Conversely, others contend that society takes minor biological distinctions and transforms them into rigid expectations regarding how men and women should behave. These gender stereotypesStereotypes are ideas about how people will act, based on the group to which they belong. may not accurately represent reality. People with gender dysphoriaFeelings of discomfort or stress a person feels due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth.  experience distress because their gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth.

Throughout history and across cultures, gender roles have evolved significantly. For instance, high heel shoes were once worn by both men and women, and pink was considered a colour for boys, while blue was associated with girls.

Many sociologists argue that gender is performative, meaning individuals actively construct it through their behaviours, clothing, speech and more. Experts suggest that children learn from an early age how to conform to societal expectations of gender. Gender is constantly reinforced through media, advertising, toys and clothing, illustrating that it is a social process.

Feminist thinkers have pointed out how gender stereotypes and roles have historically empowered men over women. Women's traditional domestic and caregiving roles have often limited their opportunities, and stereotypes have excluded them from intellectual work or leadership roles.

Some argue that evidence suggests that gender has significant social dimensions. However, there is ongoing disagreement about whether it is solely a social construct or if biological factors also play a role. It is likely that biology and society interact to shape gendered behaviour. The key is understanding how gender stereotypes and inequalities operate in society so that we can challenge discrimination and rigid norms.

Yes: Gender roles and identities vary widely across different cultures and time periods, showing that it is influenced mostly by the ruling culture and ideas of the time and place.

No: There is a biological basis for sex differences, such as chromosomes and the presence of the hormones testosterone and oestrogen.

Or... Gender is a complex phenomenon that is shaped by both social and biological factors. The relative importance of these factors is still being debated by scientists and philosophers.