What Do Sex and Gender Even Mean Now?

TL;DR

The terms 'sex' and 'gender' have historically had distinct meanings: sex referring to biological attributes and gender to socially constructed roles.
The distinction began to blur with the introduction of concepts like 'gender role' and 'gender identity', influenced by researchers like John Money and Robert Stoller.
Feminist scholars in the 1970s used 'gender' to differentiate social constructs from biological 'sex', but this distinction became difficult to maintain.
By the 2000s, 'gender' acquired a dual meaning: social norms and an internal sense of self or identity, further complicating its usage.
Current confusion in usage leads to problems in data collection (e.g., Australian census), scientific research (e.g., JAMA Ophthalmology study), and public debate (e.g., sports eligibility).
A proposed solution is to consistently use 'sex' for biological matters and 'gender' for socially constructed aspects, including gender identity and expression, to improve clarity and mutual understanding.

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