Gender identity refers to an individual’s sense of gender. It is an internal, deeply felt sense of being a man, a woman, neither, or something else entirely. Gender identity is innate and enduring, and it may or may not align with the gender assigned to a person at birth based on their biological sex characteristics. A clear distinction must be made between gender identity and sexual orientation. Sexual orientation refers to the romantic or sexual attraction one feels toward others, which may be toward people of the same gender, a different gender, or any gender. One’s gender identity does not dictate their sexual orientation, and a person of any gender identity is attracted to individuals of any gender.
Gender spectrum
The concept of a gender spectrum acknowledges that gender is not simply a binary of male and female but rather a broad and diverse range of identities and expressions. Various gender identities are included here, such as non-binary, genderfluid, agender, bigender, and more.
- Non-binary – This term is an umbrella label for people whose gender identity falls outside the binary of male and female. Non-binary individuals may identify as somewhere in between or outside the gender binary altogether. They may use pronouns such as they/them, ze/zir, or neopronouns.
- Genderfluid – A genderfluid person’s sense of gender may shift over time, fluctuating between different gender identities or defying a fixed category. One day, they might feel more masculine; another day, more feminine, and at other times, they may not identify with any gender.
- Agender – A person does not identify with a particular gender. They may feel that they do not have a gender identity or that their gender is neutral. Agender individuals often use they/them pronouns or neopronouns.
- Bigender – A bigender person identifies with two genders, typically male and female. They may feel that their gender identity encompasses both masculinity and femininity, or they may alternate between these two genders.
Gender expression and presentation
Gender expression refers to how a person outwardly expresses their gender through their behaviour, clothing, hairstyle, voice, body language, and chosen names or pronouns. This may or may not align with societal expectations of how a person of a particular gender should present themselves. For example, a person may express their gender in a more androgynous way, blending aspects of masculinity and femininity, or they may embrace a gender expression that is distinct from their assigned gender at birth. It is essential to understand that gender expression does not indicate gender identity. A person is highly feminine in their presentation and still identifies as a man, or they are masculine-presenting and identify as a woman. Gender expression is a form of self-expression and should not be assumed to reflect a person’s internal sense of gender.
Assigned sex and gender dysphoria
When a baby is born, they are typically assigned a sex (male, female, or intersex) based on their biological characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, and genitalia. This sex assignment often aligns with a gender assignment, where the child is then raised and socialised as a boy or a girl. For transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, the gender they are assigned at birth may not align with their internal sense of gender identity.
Gender dysphoria is the distress that may be experienced by individuals whose gender identity differs from the gender they were assigned at birth. This includes discomfort or dissatisfaction with one’s body, particularly secondary sex characteristics that develop during puberty, as well as the gender roles and expectations associated with one’s assigned sex. Visit transcendinggender.org for more resources on gender identity.
