Beyond Biology: How Culture Shapes Our Understanding of Gender and Sex
What does it really mean to be male or female? Or neither, or both? In a world where gender reveal parties trend alongside increasing recognition of non-binary identities, it’s clear that our understanding of gender and sex is more complex than ever.
For much of modern history, gender and sex were seen as fixed: assigned at birth, and neatly split into two. But biology tells one story, and culture tells another, often louder. From intersex variations to gender-fluid identities, both science and society are challenging rigid frameworks.
In this week’s blog, we explore how cultural norms, psychological development, media narratives, and biological diversity intersect to shape what we believe about gender and sex.
How Gender Is Understood Across Cultural, Psychological, and Social Perspectives
Gender is a multifaceted concept shaped by various influences. It extends beyond biology and reflects how individuals and communities define roles, behaviours, and identity.
- Cultural: Traditions and belief systems shape gender norms. Some cultures recognise more than two genders, while others strictly enforce binary roles.
- Psychological: Gender identity is tied to personal awareness and internal experience, which often forms in early childhood.
- Social: Social structures like education, religion, and media reinforce or challenge gender expectations, influencing how people express and interpret gender.
Together, these dimensions reveal that gender is fluid, dynamic, and context-dependent.
How Media Influences Perceptions of Gender and Identity
From a neuroscience perspective, repeated exposure to gendered messages in media may influence neural pathways involved in social cognition and self-perception. Some researchers suggest that the brain’s mirror neuron system, which responds to observed behaviours, could contribute to the internalisation of gender norms.
Although the mirror neuron theory remains debated, it offers a possible explanation for how observed roles in media might shape identity. Through neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and form new neural connections in response to learning and experience, frequently repeated portrayals such as men depicted as assertive and women as passive may influence how the brain organises gender-related concepts. This is especially significant during developmental periods when the brain is highly receptive to social input.
Biological Sex and Gender Identity: What’s the Difference?
Biological sex is assigned at birth based on physical characteristics such as genitalia, chromosomes, and hormone levels. Most people are categorised as male or female, but intersex traits show that sex exists on a spectrum.
Gender identity, on the other hand, is a person’s internal sense of who they are—whether they identify as masculine, feminine, non-binary, or gender fluid. Non-binary people do not identify strictly as male or female. Gender fluid individuals may feel more male on some days, more female on others, or somewhere in between. These concepts don’t always align with one’s assigned sex at birth.
Understanding the Scientific Spectrum of Biological Sex
Recent research highlights that biological sex is more complex than the binary categories of male and female. While sex is commonly assigned at birth based on anatomy, scientists now recognise that chromosomes, hormone levels, and internal reproductive structures vary more than once believed.
Studies have documented conditions such as androgen insensitivity syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), and Turner syndrome (XO), which illustrate that sex traits do not always align neatly.
In 2015, Nature published a feature by Claire Ainsworth arguing that sex should be seen as a multidimensional trait. Genetic and endocrinological evidence supports this view, showing that a variety of intersex conditions naturally occur in the population, estimated at around 1.7%.
These findings open the debate to a spectrum-based model of sex rather than a fixed binary.
What Are Gender Roles and What Shapes Them?
Gender roles refer to the behavioural expectations, responsibilities, and norms that societies assign to people based on their perceived gender. Multiple forces shape these roles and vary across time and culture.
- Cultural factors: Traditions, religious beliefs, and societal structures often dictate what is considered appropriate for those who identify as male or female. In some cultures, these roles are rigid; in others, more flexible.
- Historical factors: Events like industrialisation, wars, and civil rights movements have reshaped roles—for example, by increasing women’s participation in the workforce.
- Psychological factors: From early childhood, people internalise gender norms through family dynamics, education, and media exposure. This shaping process can influence identity, behaviour, and self-esteem.
Understanding these influences can help break down limiting stereotypes and support more inclusive environments.
How Do Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Differ?
Gender identity is an individual’s internal sense of self as male, female, both, neither, or somewhere along the gender spectrum. It reflects how someone experiences and expresses their gender. In contrast, sexual orientation (APA, 2008) describes who someone is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to—such as being heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or asexual.
These aspects of identity are independent. For example, a person who identifies as non-binary may be attracted to men, women, both, or neither. In psychological practice, distinguishing between gender identity and sexual orientation is essential for providing affirming and respectful care. Combining the two as one can lead to misunderstanding, misdiagnosis, and stigma, which can negatively impact mental health and well-being Ahad et al. (2023).
Moving Toward a Broader Understanding of Identity
Our understanding of gender, sex, and identity is constantly evolving as research deepens and societies shift. Recognising that both gender identity and sexual orientation are shaped by a range of biological, psychological, and cultural factors, and therefore exist along spectrums, broadens our perspective to its diversity and how we apply this.
At NeuroCog®, we embrace this complexity. Our mobile app Neury® is designed to help users explore their emotional patterns, self-awareness, and identity through neuro science-based tools. Whether you’re seeking to better understand your own experiences or supporting others, cultivating insight into identity can lead to better emotional regulation, clearer self-expression, and improved wellbeing.
Ready to deepen your self-awareness and emotional insight? Neury® by NeuroCog® offers neuroscience-informed tools that help you track your feelings, recognise patterns, and support personal growth. While not designed specifically for gender identity work, its features can aid in exploring how your emotions relate to your evolving sense of self.
Visit NeuroCog® to learn more.
References:
Ahad et al. (2023) Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Stigma Across Cultures for Improving Psychiatric Care: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023 May 26;15(5):e39549. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39549. PMID: 37250612; PMCID: PMC10220277.
Aintsworth,Claire, Nature 2015 Feb 19;518(7539):288-91. doi: 10.1038/518288a
American Psychological Association (2008), Understanding sexual orientation and homosexuality, https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbtq/orientation
MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome; [updated 2024, Apr 1; cited 2025, Aug 21]; Available from: medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/androgen-insensitivity-syndrome/
World Health Organisation, https://www.who.int/health-topics/gender
