Why do people say gender when they mean sex?

Question

For example, I just saw someone say she would change her gender if Ann Coulter was the alpha female. Was she too uncomfortable with saying she would change her sex?

The word sex to describe male or female has been in use since the 14th century.

Somehow I doubt there are more "liberals" misusing the word gender than "conservatives"

Answer 1

sex has too many connotations, gender is a fairly neutral word.

Answer 2

DeadCatBo; the gender of a human or animal denotes the sex of that individual. A man's gender is male, a woman's gender is female.
This applies to all species. To specify a gender is to mark it male or female.

Answer 3

Liberals are that way. They are full of Politically Correctness fear. God forbid you call a gay man a gay, or a handicapped person a cripple. When it comes to being totally honest and speaking your mind, like Ann Coulter, Liberals get all bent out of shape because they cannot handle that much open honest talk at one time.

Answer 4

When you get into the area of gender studies, there is actually a subtle distinction between the terms.

Sex is has to do with your physical appearance and gentalia. Gender refers to the role you play in society.

That said, most people outside the field use the terms interchangeably.

Answer 5

Gender is the technical term. Sex began being used in the mid-1900's.

Answer 6

Political Correctness strikes again!

By the way, if anyone other than Ann Coulter said what she said, it wouldn't have made the news.

Answer 7

gender and sex is totally different..sex is physical differences exhibited by female and male..it is biologically determined..it gives qualities or features that makes a person either male or female..whereas..gender is the fact of being either male or female..simply said..masculine or feminine..

Answer 8

Gender is the correct term.
Far too many people nowadays say sex when they mean gender.

Answer 9

Yeah, politically correct.

Answer 10

I had gender last night....