Sexes/Legends



Most beings in the galaxy were one of two sexes, male or female. However, some species, such as the Hutts, could adopt the sexual characteristics of either gender, and were classified as hermaphrodites. Other variable species, like the X'Ting, changed gender periodically based on hormonal cycles. Some alien races had more than two sexes (the insectoid Xi'Dec had over 180 different sexes, presumably due to variations in compatible genitalia). Finally, some species, like the Filordi, were asexual, with individuals being able to reproduce on their own. The Fnessian race had a previously undocumented gender called Thos. What exactly being a Thos meant is unknown.

Dimorphism
Most species possessed distinct characteristics that distinguished males and females. Females tended to have slighter frames than males and possessed voices with a higher pitch and tonal quality. Females of most mammalian species (and some reptillian species) were distinguished by their breasts. Social practices also further characterized females by how they are expected to act, the clothing they wear, and how they are expected to style their hair (if that species grew it).

Males tended to be larger, with broader shoulders and deeper voices. Males had more muscle mass and were expected to perform better with manual labor than females. Social practices expected males to behave in certain ways, wear certain clothing, and style their hair in a way that was considered "masculine" in order to further differentiate that gender from the females of the species.

Droid gender programming
Droids, especially those with complex personalities and those which worked in close partnerships with organic beings, such as protocol droids and astromech droids, were often programmed to have stereotypically masculine or feminine personalities. Thus, even mechanical beings were usually designated he or she.

Behind the scenes
Several Star Wars games allow the player to choose and customize the main character's sex. Such characters are Rookie One, Jaden Korr, Revan and the Jedi Exile. Since Star Wars has a definite story and canon, subsequent publications have defined the canonical sex of those persons in the historical 'reality' of the Star Wars continuity. While Rookiee One, Revan, and Jaden Korr were canonized as male, the Jedi Exile was made into a female character,> which caused some consternation among the Star Wars community. In addition, Star Wars: Galaxies allows the player to choose the sex of his or her character. Unlike the above characters, however, Galaxies player characters are not canonical.