Gender is commonly used to describe the anatomy one is born with, making them male or female. However, the correct term for discussing biological features of male and female would be the term "sex". As member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know that God created both man and woman with purpose and with distinct differences. These differences between male and female are not to make one or the other superior, or inferior - Instead, they create compatibility and reliance between male and female, as we simply cannot create or sustain life without one another. President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke beautifully about this subject, stating "when God first created man, He created duality of the sexes. The ennobling expression of that duality is found in marriage. One individual is complementary to the other." Our different traits and characteristics are all a part of God's eternal design for us, as His children. This goes beyond individuality, it also creates special roles within each sex to better function as a unit within marriage and family - both as husband and wife, and eventually mother and father.
The idea of natural born qualities given to men and women is something that society has come down on hard, in the recent years. While gender originally referred to male and female - it now refers to much more than that. In society, gender has started to lean more toward what one "identifies" with, rather than the sex of their biological body. This can become extremely confusing to some, and there has been an extreme increase in what is known as "transgender" or the term "transitioning", which entails changing from your biologically born gender, to the other/another. In some cases, there are children as young as six years old that are considered to be transgender.
To most, gender and sexual preference typically seem to go hand in hand. There seems to be confusion around this topic. There is a difference between transgender and homosexual. While they can relate, it doesn't mean that it always the case. Understanding the meaning of words can be incredibly important in situations such as these.
For example, many parents grow concerned when their young boy seems to get along with girls better, likes to play with dolls, or wants to paint his nails. To a young child, this may not mean anything at all, besides his thoughts that a doll is more fun than monster truck toys. However, parents, particularly fathers, may panic at these actions and jump to thoughts like, "Is my son gay?", while this may seem like a a valid concern or question - we first need to understand what "gay" means/is referring to. In this case, "gay" is relating to homosexual, which by definition means "a person who is sexually attracted to people of their own sex." Now taking a step back, why was this father concerned? His concern came from the fact that his young son, enjoys playing with dolls or having his nails painted. Are any of those things showing sexual actions, desires, or preferences, particularly with another male? Not at all. At that moment in time, this child was being simply that - a child; doing things he saw as fun.
As parents, or simply as people of society, we tend to make things seem something that they are not. We jump to conclusions, label, and decide things for one another before an individual has decided for themselves. Give people, especially children, the space to simply enjoy things before slapping on the label that society gave it. A color does not belong to one gender. A toy does not belong to one gender. Children don't know the difference. Society made the difference.
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