The study of gender and sexuality also shows how power operates among the categories of gender, particularly through forms of gender ideology such as patriarchy. Gender and sexuality are complex and highly variable aspects of culture.

Examining evidence from primates and humans as well as the archaeological record, anthropologists have concluded that humans are highly variable, capable of many expressions of gender and sexuality. A growing area of research considers the experiences of intersex persons as well as efforts by parents and doctors to assign gender in ambiguous situations.

gender — a set of cultural identities, expressions and roles that are assigned to people, often based upon the interpretation of their bodies, and in some cases, their sexual and…. sexuality — erotic thoughts, desires, and practices and the sociocultural identities associated with them. sex — biological categories of male, female, and intersex. intersex — born with differences in sex characteristics or chromosomes that do not fall within typical conceptions of male or female.