"A man is a man and a woman is a woman." Applause followed Rishi Sunak's words as he spoke at the Conservative PartyA British political party. Members are known as Tories. conference.

But transgender rights activists are worried. Last year, England and Wales recorded a record number of hate crimes against the country's 260,000-strong transgender community. The prime minister's comments, they claim, deny that transgender people exist. "If you don't acknowledge a group of people exist," says prominent transgender newsreader India Willoughby, "then obviously that group of people don't have rights". 

In recent years, the conversation surrounding gender identity has become increasingly heated. The key question at the heart of the debate: is gender biologically determined, or is it a social construct that can be changed? 

The idea that gender is a social construct means that gender roles and identities are created by society and culture, not just based on our biology. 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". They point out that "as a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time". 

But others say that gender should not be confused with the material reality of biological sex The sex we are assigned at birth.. For example, biological males have a Y chromosomeNearly all human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, which store our genetic information. , whilst the two sexes go through different changes at puberty, with males usually having higher levels of the hormone testosteroneThe hormone that causes people to develop male sexual characteristics. Women also produce some testosterone. and females usually having higher levels of oestrogenFemale sex hormones. After the menopause, these can increase the risk of cancer..¹ 

However, others argue society takes biological differences and turns them into very fixed ideas about how men and women are "supposed" to act. These gender stereotypes may not reflect 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 a deep distress because their gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth.

If you look across history and different cultures, gender roles have changed a lot. For example, high heel shoes used to be worn by both men and women. Pink used to be considered a boy's colour and blue for girls.

Many sociologistsPeople who study society, its development and structure, and social behaviour. argue gender is performative - we actively construct it through our behaviours, dress, speech and more. Experts claim that children learn at a young age how to "do" gender properly to fit expectations. Gender is constantly reinforced through media, adverts, toys and clothes. This shows it is a social process.

Feminist thinkers have pointed out ways in which gender stereotypes and roles serve to empower men over women. Women's domestic and caring roles have historically limited their opportunities. Ideas like women being unfit for intellectual work or leadership have excluded them from power. 

Overall, evidence suggests gender has important social dimensions. However, people disagree on whether it is entirely a social construct or also shaped by biological factors. It is very likely that biology and society interact to cause gendered behaviour. What is important is understanding how gender stereotypes and inequality operate in society, so 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.