Gender vs. Genre — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 14, 2024
Gender refers to social and cultural distinctions associated with being male or female, while genre categorizes literature, music, or other forms of art based on shared conventions.
Difference Between Gender and Genre
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Gender is primarily associated with the roles, behaviors, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women, whereas genre is a classification that helps categorize various forms of art and literature according to style, form, and content.
Gender roles can have profound impacts on individual life choices and opportunities, whereas genre primarily affects the creation and reception of artistic and literary works.
While gender identity can be a deeply personal and sometimes fluid experience, genre classifications, although subject to interpretation and change, tend to be more static and defined within cultural contexts.
Comparison Chart
Focus
Social constructs and identity
Artistic form and content
Variability
Fluid and culturally specific
More consistent, with established conventions
ADVERTISEMENT
Impact
Influences personal and social life
Guides production and reception of art
Examples
Masculine, feminine, non-binary
Mystery, romance, thriller, documentary
Compare with Definitions
Gender
Social gender.
In many societies, wearing dresses is often associated with the female gender.
Genre
Film genre.
The Godfather is categorized under the crime genre for its thematic focus on organized crime.
Gender
Gender identity.
Alex identifies as non-binary, which challenges the traditional gender binary.
Genre
Genre conventions.
In the horror genre, isolated settings and jump scares are common conventions.
Gender
Gender expression.
Jamie's gender expression includes both traditionally masculine and feminine elements.
Genre
Genre evolution.
The fantasy genre has evolved from medieval myths to modern high fantasy like The Lord of the Rings.
Gender
One's identity as female or male or as neither entirely female nor entirely male.
Genre
Literary genre.
Shakespeare's Hamlet is a classic example of the tragedy genre.
Gender
Females or males considered as a group
Students lined up with the genders in different lines.
Genre
{{Genres is an Advertising Company based in Berhampur, Odisha, India. headed by young and talented people.
Gender
To engender.
Genre
A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, marked by a distinctive style, form, or content
"his six String Quartets ... the most important works in the genre since Beethoven's" (Time).
Gender
(obsolete) Class; kind.
Genre
A realistic style of painting that depicts scenes from everyday life.
Gender
(grammar) A division of nouns and pronouns (and sometimes of other parts of speech) into masculine or feminine, and sometimes other categories like neuter or common, and animate or inanimate.
Genre
A type or class
"Emaciated famine victims ... on television focused a new genre of attention on the continent" (Helen Kitchen).
Gender
Identification as a man, a woman, or something else, and association with a (social) role or set of behavioral and cultural traits, clothing, etc; a category to which a person belongs on this basis. Compare gender role, gender identity.
Genre
A kind; a stylistic category or sort, especially of literature or other artworks.
The still life has been a popular genre in painting since the 17th century.
This film is a cross-genre piece, dark and funny at the same time.
The computer game Half-Life redefined the first-person shooter genre.
Gender
Senseid|en|grammar: voice}} (grammar) {{synonym of voice
Genre
Kind; genus; class; form; style, esp. in literature.
French drama was lisping or still inarticulate; the great French genre of the fabliau was hardly born.
A particular demand . . . that we shall pay special attention to the matter of genres - that is, to the different forms or categories of literature.
Gender
(hardware) The quality which distinguishes connectors, which may be male (fitting into another connector) and female (having another connector fit into it), or genderless/androgynous (capable of fitting together with another connector of the same type).
Genre
A style of painting, sculpture, or other imitative art, which illustrates everyday life and manners.
Gender
An Indonesian musical instrument resembling a xylophone, used in gamelan music.
Genre
A kind of literary or artistic work
Gender
(sociology) To assign a gender to (a person); to perceive as having a gender; to address using terms (pronouns, nouns, adjectives...) that express a certain gender.
Genre
A style of expressing yourself in writing
Gender
(sociology) To perceive (a thing) as having characteristics associated with a certain gender, or as having been authored by someone of a certain gender.
Genre
An expressive style of music
Gender
(archaic) To engender.
Genre
A class of art (or artistic endeavor) having a characteristic form or technique
Gender
To breed.
Genre
Music genre.
Jazz is known for its complex harmonies and spontaneous composition.
Gender
Evoking indescribable feelings regarding gender.
This song is so gender.
Gender
Kind; sort.
Gender
To beget; to engender.
Gender
To copulate; to breed.
Gender
Gender roles.
In the past, cooking was typically assigned as a woman's role due to gender stereotypes.
Gender
Gender norms.
Gender norms in his culture expect men to be the primary breadwinners.
Common Curiosities
Can gender be non-binary?
Yes, gender can be non-binary, which acknowledges identities that do not fit strictly into male or female categories.
What role does gender play in professional settings?
Gender can influence career opportunities, workplace dynamics, and professional roles in many societies.
Is genre specific to only one form of art?
No, genre applies to multiple forms of art including literature, music, film, and more.
How do gender roles vary across cultures?
Gender roles can vary greatly, with some cultures having rigid gender expectations while others recognize a more fluid spectrum of gender identities.
How are new genres created?
New genres are often created by blending elements of existing genres or by innovating new forms and styles in response to cultural changes.
How does genre influence literature?
Genre influences literature by setting specific expectations for narrative structure, themes, and character types.
What is an example of a music genre?
An example of a music genre is rock, characterized by its use of electric guitars and drums.
What distinguishes the fantasy genre in literature?
The fantasy genre is distinguished by elements of magic, mythical creatures, and often an epic struggle between good and evil.
How does genre affect audience expectations?
Genre helps set audience expectations regarding the tone, pacing, and type of content they are likely to encounter in a work.
Can genres overlap?
Yes, genres can overlap in works that blend elements of multiple genres, such as comedic dramas or romantic thrillers.
What is the impact of gender on personal relationships?
Gender expectations can significantly affect personal relationships, influencing roles within families, friendships, and romantic partnerships.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Shamisen vs. Biwa
Next Comparison
Europe vs. AmericaAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
