Gender and culture are an interconnected issue. Gender and culture are an interconnected issue. Many of the issues relevant to gender are also relevant to culture. The issue of gender identity is becoming an increasingly important factor among today's youth. It's not just a gender issue, but a cultural issue. Young people with gender identity issues engage in more risky behaviors and significantly increase health care costs. Art therapy can be a viable method to help the client heal from gender identity crisis. These young people can survive and become strong forces in society. A person's gender and sex are two different issues, but this is easily misunderstood by society. Gender can be defined as a person's personality trait, as well as a position in society associated with male or female. Sex is the biological constitution of a person (Carl, 2012). Many people see gender and culture separately, but in today's society they can come together by combining issues. Culture can be defined in many different ways. They may be similar patterns of behavior, including language, thoughts, actions, customs, beliefs, values, ethnicity, religion, or social groups. Culture can develop based on space and time, as well as circumstances or even fate (Spadly, 2011). Many of these issues play the same role in defining a person's gender. One issue I have seen is increased confusion among today's youth regarding gender identity. It seems like this is a cultural issue. Confusing ideas arise from environmental factors such as divorce in families, lack of parental care, abandonment, anger, abuse, neglect and media glorification. These are specifically problems with the language used with young people, as well as the thoughts expressed by those around them, including family... middle of paper... open and welcoming person. It honestly changed my life. Works CitedCarl, J.D. (2012). Gender vs Sex: What's the Difference? Montessori Life: a publication of the American Montessori Society. 24(1), 26-30Garofalo, R. (2014). A personal reflection on the history of population-based research with sexual minority youth. American Journal of Public Health, 104(2), 198-200. Kann, L., Olsen, E., McManus. T., Kinchen, S., Chyen, D., Harris, W. A., & Wechsler, H. (2011). Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contact, and Health Risk Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9-12 - Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, Selected Sites, United States, 2001-2009. MMWR Surveillance Summaries 60(SS-7), 1-134.Mometrix (2013). Study system with flashcards for art therapy exams. Mometrix Media LLC.Spadly, J. (2011). Culture Clash 101. http:www.slideshare.net/mbrasovcurca/copy-or-culture-clash-101