Sex - Basic Aspects of Human Sexuality

Matters of degree: Table 1.1

Sex Sex is defined as a person's femaleness or maleness. It is determined on the basis of five physical criteria: chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, hormonal sex, internal accessory reproductive structures, and external sex organs. People are female or male to the degree in which they meet the physical criteria for femaleness or maleness. Most individuals are clearly female or male by all five physical criteria. However, a minority fall somewhat short of this test, and their sex is therefore ambiguous (intersexuality).