syntymäsukupuoli

Syntymäsukupuoli refers to the sex assigned at birth, typically based on observable physical characteristics such as external genitalia, chromosomes, and hormones. It is a binary classification, usually designated as male or female. This designation is often recorded on legal documents and influences various aspects of an individual's life from birth.

The assignment of birth sex is a medical and social process. In most cases, the infant's physical sex characteristics are clearly aligned with typical male or female development, making the assignment straightforward. However, in some instances, individuals may be born with variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. These individuals are often referred to as intersex.

While syntymäsukupuoli is assigned at birth, it is distinct from gender identity, which is an individual's internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere else along the gender spectrum. Similarly, it is distinct from gender expression, which is how a person outwardly presents their gender. Understanding syntymäsukupuoli as a biological classification is important in discussions about sex, gender, and identity.