Gender and Sex
Gender refers to how one relates to the gender categories within one’s society and culture. One’s gender is built from many different aspects, including gender identity, gender presentation (also referred to as gender expression), gender quality, gender alignment, and gender modality.
All societies have a set of gender categories, each with their own cultural norms and expectations, which are typically based on a division of labor. In most Western societies, there is a gender binary, meaning two recognized genders (male/men and female/women), and those who exist outside these categories fall under the umbrella terms non-binary or genderqueer. Some societies have gender categories other than men and women, such as the hijras of South Asia. These are often referred to as third genders (and fourth genders, etc.).
Fluid Genders
As our understanding of gender identity has evolved, we know that it isn't a binary. Most experts now agree that gender is a spectrum of identities. While many people form a gender identity that aligns with one gender, others do not. If a person's gender identity is not fixed, they may identify as gender fluid. This article explores what gender fluid means, and how that impacts individuals and society.
Terminology
Here are some words and phrases to help understand gender fluidity.Gender
Gender is a social construct that both influences and is defined by a person's relationships, power in society, roles & norms, and identity. It's also influenced by a person's internal feelings of masculinity or femininity. For many people, gender is closely tied to their biological sex assignment of male or female.Gender Identity
Gender identity is a person's internal sense of their own gender. They may identify as man, woman, non-binary, or something else.Gender Binary
A now outdated concept that all people are either man or woman based on their biological sex.Gender Fluidity
Gender fluidity is the concept that some people don't experienced a fixed gender identity. Instead, their gender evolves over time, or may fluctuate from one part of the spectrum of gender to another. Some refer to it as the ability to transcend gender. Some gender fluid people see themselves as non-binary while others prefer the term multi-gender. Others see themselves as transgender.Gender Expression
Gender expression is the way in which a person represents their gender identity externally - through clothing, hairstyles, mannerisms, makeup, and other elements. A person who is gender fluid may use different gender expressions to show their gender identity, but not always. How a person identifies is internal, and they may not change their outward gender expression at all. This is also called gender presentation.Gender Neutral
Gender neutral usually refers to items or concepts that are not associated with a certain gender. For example, gender neutral clothing is designed for anybody to wear regardless of gender identity. On the other hand, if clothing in certain colors are placed in men's or women's categories, for example pink represents femininity and blue represents masculinity, those items would be gendered.Gender Diverse
This is a category of people who have a gender identity that does not align with binary categories male or female. Someone may call themselves gender diverse if they have a genderfluid identity or are non-binary.Gender Affirming Care
This is medical or mental health care that a person receives to affirm their gender identity.Sex Assigned at Birth
This is the biological sex a person is assigned based on their anatomy at birth. A person's initial gender is assigned based on this classification.Gender Spectrum
The concept that gender identity exists on a spectrum rather than a binary male and female categorization.Nonbinary
An umbrella term for gender identities that don't align strictly with either man or woman. Identity Paragender Identities Paragender is a non binary gender alignment where a person feels mostly connected with a specific gender identity, but not entirely that gender. How that majority gender outweighs the minority gender varies. Someone who is paragender might feel alignment with just two or many genders.Terminology
Here are some terms to help increase understanding of paragender identities.Paragender Identities
Paragender identities are a subset of non-binary identities that include people who are mostly but not fully aligned with a single gender. For example, a para boy mostly feels male or masculine. A para girl mostly feels female or feminine.Genderqueer
Describes an identity where someone does not align with the traditional male or female. May also be used as a personal or political statement indicated rebellion against gender norms.Non-Binary
an umbrella term for gender identities out side of the male/female binary.Agender
Somebody who does not resonate with a specific gender or with any gender at all.Gender Fluid
Describes somebody whose gender changes or shifts over time between different genders.Demigender
An identity with a partial connection to a specific gender without fully identifying as that gender. This includes demiboy or demi girl.Gender Spectrum
Defines gender as a construct beyond male or female binaries that includes a range of identities.Bigender
An individual who identifies as two genders at once or at different times.Transgender
Someone who has a different gender identity than what they were assigned at birth.Cisgender
Somebody who identifies with the gender and sex they were assigned at birth.Neutrois
Another non-binary identity that means to be neutral or null in gender.Gender Dysphoria
Feelings of distress that are felt by people who do not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. TerminologyCategories
