Sex and Gender

• Definition
  Sex is biological, it’s about your body and the physical parts that people use to decide if bodies are male, female or not clearly just on or the other.
  Gender is how society thinks we should look, think and act as either males or females.
  Gender identity is how we feel about our sex and our gender and how we express those feelings with how we dress and act.
• Signs
  Straight/Hetrosexual
  You have a physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to people of the opposite sex
  
  Gay
  You are attracted to people of the same sex or gender (also known as homosexual)
  
  Lesbian
  When you are a female and you are physically and/or emotionally attracted to other females
  
  Bisexual
  You are physically, romantically and/or emotionally attracted to people whose gender and sexuality is the same as yours as well as being attracted to people whose gender and sexuality is different to yours
  
  Transgender
  When people feel the sex they have been raised as does not match how they feel inside
  
  Transsexual
  You appear as and/or want to be considered as a member of the opposite sex to the one you were born with
  
  Pansexual
  You have a physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to people of any gender identity
  
  Homophobia
  The fear or hatred of people who are not straight
  
  Transphobia
  The fear or hatred of people who are believed to be transsexual or who don’t look, act or dress how other people believe they should based on their sex.
• Advice
  No matter what gender you most identify with, you have a right to enjoy your body and your sexual experiences and you have a right to healthy relationships.
  
  If you are confused or unsure about your sex or gender identity, you feel you have to keep quiet about your sexuality or gender identity or you believe you are experiencing bullying or unkind comments or behaviours from people because of your identity then talk to someone. Keeping quiet can lead to more uneasy or difficult feelings, experiences of depression and/or other psychological problems.
  
  Talk to someone you trust, a friend, an adult, a teacher, GP or counsellor or use the links below to read more or to speak to someone confidentially by telephone.
• Where can i get help?
  In school you can talk to the following people:
  A friend
  Your Tutor
  A YHS Wellbeing Advisor
  Pupil Welfare Officer
  Pastoral Mentor (Drop in sessions Tuesday & Wednesday during break and lunchtime)
  Stonewall Schools Champion
  
  In the community
  Talk to your parents or GP
  
  Telephone
  Childline (Free) 0800 1111
  
  Links
  Childline
  Stonewall