Second Wave Feminism and Gender Distinction

The statement, differentiating between 'gender' as a social construct and 'sex' as biological, is strongly associated with the intellectual developments of the second wave of feminism.

Understanding Gender vs. Sex

• Sex typically refers to biological attributes like chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy (male, female, intersex).
• Gender refers to the roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. It is learned and culturally influenced.

Why Second Wave Feminism?

The second wave of feminism (roughly 1960s-1980s) significantly explored and popularized the idea that many perceived differences between men and women were not biological necessities but rather socially constructed norms and expectations. Key thinkers emphasized that societal structures and cultural conditioning shaped gender identity and roles, rather than just biology.

• This wave critiqued traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
• It highlighted how society assigns specific expectations based on perceived sex.
• The concept of "the personal is political" emerged, examining how private life (including gender roles) was shaped by political and social structures.

Why Other Options Are Less Relevant

• First wave feminism (late 19th/early 20th century) primarily focused on gaining basic legal rights like suffrage and property ownership.
• Functionalism, while a sociological perspective, is not the primary origin for this specific gender-sex distinction in feminist discourse. It tends to focus on social order and the functions of institutions.
• Globalization is a broader economic and social process and while it impacts gender globally, it is not the source attributed to this foundational feminist concept.

Therefore, the distinction between socially constructed gender and biologically given sex is a hallmark concept linked to the second wave of feminism.