Sex
A sex or legal sex is assigned to a person on the basis of primary / external sex characteristics (genitalia) and reproductive functions when they are born. A person’s legal sex may be changed as part of gender reassignment.
Sometimes the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are used interchangeably to mean ‘male’ or ‘female’,116 however it is important to make a distinction between ‘legal sex’ and ‘gender identity’ wherever possible and particularly when it comes to equality monitoring questions. Unless communications are referring specifically to an individual’s legal sex, it is considered to be more inclusive to use the word ‘gender’ rather than ‘sex’ as this takes account of gender identity.
For more information, please see the full 'Sex' and ‘Gender or Gender identity’ definitions below.
Content warning
Some of the terminology and definitions used in this glossary relate to subject matter that may be upsetting or triggering for some people.
In an ED&I context the word embodiment relates to the experience of living in one’s body. It relates both to the way a person experiences their body in the context of societal expectations, and also to the way those expectations influence their body.110
This is used to highlight the pay differences between men and women who carry out the same job, similar jobs, or work of equal value. This is not the same as the Gender pay gap. For more information see the most recent University of York Gender Pay Gap Report 2020 (PDF 
, 410kb).111
111 University of York Gender Pay Gap Report 2020 (PDF , 410kb)
A set of beliefs advocating equal rights and opportunity for women. Feminism has many subsets, such as intersectional feminism and transfeminism etc. Social and political feminist movements have often focused solely on gender and sex, however they can also include other types of identities, such as race, class, and disability status.
This term is often used interchangeably with ‘violence against women’. However, gender-based violence refers to violence directed against someone because of their gender and expectations of their role in a society or culture. Women experience gender-based violence disproportionately more than men, though men also experience it.112
The gender pay gap uses pay scales to measure how organisations are providing equality of opportunity for men and women, using pay as the best proxy for seniority. The gender pay gap shows the difference in average (mean) and also median earnings between women and men. This is different from the equal pay gap. For more information, read the University’s most recent gender pay gap report: University of York Gender Pay Gap Report 2020 (PDF , 410kb).
An umbrella term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both male and female or whose biological attributes or primary sex characteristics do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes a man or woman. Intersex people may identify as male, female or nonbinary.113 Intersex is not the same as gender identity or sexual orientation.
Mansplain is a term that combines the words “man” and “explain”. Mansplaining refers to a man explaining something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending, patronising or where it is assumed, as a result of bias or prejudice, that a woman would fail to understand the meaning or reasoning behind something.
Menopause refers to the time in a woman's life, commonly between the age of 45 and 51, when menstruation ceases, although it may begin at an earlier time. There are a number of other health issues and conditions that may relate to and result from the menopause. It is important to note that the menopause may affect trans men and nonbinary people. For more information see the University’s Menopause guidance.
Misandry is the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against men or boys. Misandry can manifest itself in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, denigration of men, violence against men, and sexual objectification of men.
The word misogyny, which differs from harassment and is currently not recognised as a hate crime under UK legislation, is defined as sexist attitudes and ideology forming the basis of prejudice or discrimination towards women.114
Patriarchy originally referred to a society or system of government led by men, in which property was inherited through the male line. It is now used, particularly in an ED&I sense, to refer to a social system in which men hold more power than women.114 The patriarchy is therefore a structural and ideological system that perpetuates the privileging of particular kinds of masculinity and cisgender individuals and behaviours.
People who are non-intersex, ie an individual whose sex characteristics fit into the male or female binary.
A sex or legal sex is assigned to a person on the basis of primary / external sex characteristics (genitalia) and reproductive functions when they are born. A person’s legal sex may be changed as part of gender reassignment.
Sometimes the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are used interchangeably to mean ‘male’ or ‘female’,116 however it is important to make a distinction between ‘legal sex’ and ‘gender identity’ wherever possible and particularly when it comes to equality monitoring questions. Unless communications are referring specifically to an individual’s legal sex, it is considered to be more inclusive to use the word ‘gender’ rather than ‘sex’ as this takes account of gender identity.
For the purposes of everyday life (including banking, personal identification and travel), a person’s legal sex may not be the same as their self-identified gender. For instance, a trans woman can have identity documents such as a passport, driving licence and employment records based upon her gender as female, but still have a birth certificate which states that she is male.117
In order to publish data in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty and to comply with the sector REF data returns, the University collects information from its staff and student community on legal sex, but also requests information on gender or gender identity, which is anonymised and used at an institutional level to identify trends and inform our support initiatives. For more information see the University’s equality monitoring webpage.
Also see the ‘Gender or Gender identity’ definition.
116 Stonewall Glossary of Terms
117 Trans staff and students in HE and colleges: improving experiences
Sexism is discrimination based on a person’s sex and/or gender identity. Examples of such discrimination could be limiting someone’s employment and other opportunities based on their sex or gender, or by restricting rights such as voting rights.
Toxic masculinity refers to behaviours that are based on traditional cultural masculine norms that can be harmful to people of all genders and society. The concept of toxic masculinity is not intended to demonise men or male attributes, but rather to emphasise the harmful effects of conformity to certain traditional masculine ideals and behaviours such as dominance, self-reliance and competition (when taken to their extremes). Toxic masculinity is therefore defined by adherence to traditional male gender roles that consequently stigmatise and limit the emotions boys and men are permitted to express, while elevating other emotions and behaviours such as anger and aggression.
Unisex refers to thoughts, feelings, relationships, behaviours and other forms of physical expression such as clothing and mannerisms etc, that may be associated with both men and women. This term is sometimes used to refer to facilities such as toilets.