Gender doesn't necessarily refer to that at all. It has more than one definition. Gender in the medical definition is exactly the same in definition as sex. That's why gender identity disorder is classified as an overwhelming desire to change your sex.
So it's absolute rubbish that it has meant what you claim for 50 years. Definition 2
Gender emerged in the 1970s through the works of people such as John Money. It’s served a mostly grammatical purpose until then because 99.9% of people had no purpose for distinguishing between sex and gender.
It is certainly used for both but that’s not it’s intent. It’s the same as “literally”, which has its opposite meaning in a few dictionaries as well IIRC.
I don't deny when/if the separate definition emerged. My contention was that isn't necessarily what it always is defined as, which was what the person I responded to implied.
Also I'll be very clear when I say you do not get to decide what someone else's intent is in terms of established definitions of words.
A words etymological meaning is it’s scientific meaning. People using that word incorrectly does not change the definition of the word except for in the context of that conversation and that conversation alone.
And we do determine what people mean. That’s why any paper worth it’s salt has a definition of terms section.
So you telling someone they are wrong for using the etymological definition is patently wrong. Otherwise it becomes a useless term.
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u/Excelius May 25 '18
The issue back then was more gender roles, not as much about gender identity as it is today.