![facebook 51 different genders facebook 51 different genders](https://www.roseyproject.co.uk/siteimages/gender/make-up.png)
Many societies are now expanding their use of gender terms. However, this binary gender system is inadequate for understanding the gender of all humans, especially across cultures. Just as sex is often talked about as male/female, gender is often thought about as being a man or woman. Gender primarily refers to qualities that are masculine or feminine or neither or both. Gender is more about your personal sense of who you are (e.g., man, woman, transgender, etc). And while sex is often talked about as if the only two options are male and female, this two-sex system is inadequate for understanding the sex characteristics of all people.
![facebook 51 different genders facebook 51 different genders](https://media.wired.co.uk/photos/606daf4ed9c09fc47d4c1fca/4:3/w_1704,h_1278,c_limit/Facebook-data-cache.jpg)
Sex refers mainly to biology and is a configuration of chromosomes, hormones, gonads (ovaries, testicles), reproductive units (sperm, egg), and internal and external anatomy. READ MORE FDA: More Female Libido Studies! If that whole “sex” versus “gender” thing is confusing, here’s a little background: While Facebook has always used sex terms (male and female) to describe users’ genders, their recognition of the diversity of gender identities and presentations is a welcome one. Except there are actually (at least) dozens of gender terms, and Facebook is now offering its users numerous options to present their gender identity to their Facebook friends in the same way they do in the real world (or a different way – because, hey, and it’s your gender identity and you can do what you want). And given the endlessly diverse ways people experience their gender, their bodies, and their masculinity or femininity, it’s a wonder there are so few words to describe it.
![facebook 51 different genders facebook 51 different genders](https://www.statista.com/graphic/1/802776/distribution-of-users-on-instagram-worldwide-gender.jpg)
Most of us never question or think much about our gender, but it’s an essential part of our identity.