Sex or gender? What difference does it make?

It is not unusual these days to hear "sex" and "gender" used interchangeably in the media or everyday conversations. In fact, there is increasing evidence that the two terms are also being confused by academics and researchers. If the world of science is having trouble understanding the terms, then is it surprising that the general public is confused? So what is there to be confused about? "Sex" refers to biological differences between men and women. "Gender" refers to the socially constructed roles and behaviours, activities that society considers acceptable for men and women. While these may seem like straightforward definitions, it starts to get messy again when we try to understand why sex and gender matter. This presentation will provide a relaxed and interactive opportunity for the general public to hear leaders in the field of sex, gender and health explain, using non-scientific language, why both matter for our health and wellbeing.