Gender

GENDER is part of how you understand who you are and how you interact with other people. Many people understand their gender as being a man or woman. Some people understand their gender as a mix of these or neither. A person’s gender and their expression of their gender can be shown in different ways, such as through behaviour or physical appearance. Gender is a social construct and is different to SEX which is A person’s biological sex characteristics. We have previously understood the term ‘sex’ as either female or male. Whilst many believe that there are only two sexes there is actually THREE SEXES, male, female and Intersex.

GENDER IDENTITY is a person’s internal sense of self with regards to gender. Some people feel more male or more female, others have changing or less strong gendered feelings. Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender.

  • Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it. Gender Identity is how someone feels in them-self and doesn't relate to body part or biology. 

  • There are many genders including cis women, cis men, trans women, trans men, agender, non-binary, genderfluid and genderqueer people.

GENDER EXPRESSION is how a person publicly expresses or presents their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearance such as dress, hair, make-up, body language and voice. A person's chosen name and pronoun are also common ways of expressing gender. Some types of Gender Expression are Feminine, Masculine, a mix of both or Androgynous. Gender Expression can be fluid, change over time or sit outside of traditional gender roles.

GENDER DIVERSE - An umbrella term for a range of genders expressed in different ways. Gender diverse people use many terms to describe themselves. Language in this area is dynamic, particularly among young people, but includes range of gender identities that sit outside the binary of woman and man. This includes trans/transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, gender non-conforming and more.

 

Transgender Flag

Agender Flag

Bigender Flag

Non-binary Flag

Demigender Flag

Gender Queer Flag

Gender Fluid Flag

Gender Identities

There is a range of gender identities that people identify as, all are valid and real gender identities. Some gender identities change social norms because of the rigid binary that has been place on gender.

  • Describes people whose gender is the same as the sex assigned to them at birth (male or female). ‘Cis’ is a Latin term meaning ‘on the same side as’.

    Cisgender Man is the way to Identify someone you was assigned male at birth and gender identity and expression is a Man.

    Cisgender Women is someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a Women.

  • A term describing people whose gender identity is different from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth

  • Trans woman refers to an individual that was Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB) who identifies as a Women

  • An AMAB person who is closer to femininity than masculinity but is not a binary woman. Often abbreviated to transfem or transfemme.

  • Trans man refers to an individual that was Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) who identifies as a Man

  • An AFAB person who is closer to masculinity than femininity but is not a binary man. Often abbreviated to transmasc.

  • A term used to describe genders that sit outside of the man / woman binary. This includes people whose gender is not exclusively female or male. A person might identify solely as non-binary, or relate to non-binary as an umbrella term and consider themselves genderfluid, genderqueer, trans masculine, trans feminine, agender, bigender, or something else. Many Non-Binary people use they/them pronouns.

  • a person who does not identify themselves as having a particular gender.

  • A self-imposed gender identity term which reflects feeling like both a man and a woman. This can be interchangeable and fluid for many.

  • a person who feels their gender identity partially identifies with a masculine identity but is not wholly binary.

  • A gender identity term for someone who was assigned female at birth but does not fully identify with being a woman, socially or mentally.

  • A term describing people whose gender identity changes over time or may shift between different identities at different times.

  • A term describing someone whose gender identity doesn't fit rigidly within the binary expectations of being a man or woman.

  • SISTERGIRL: A term used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe gender diverse people that have a female spirit and take on female roles within the community. Including looking after children and family. Many Sistergirls live a traditional lifestyle and have strong cultural backgrounds.

    BROTHERBOY: A term used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe gender diverse people who have a male spirit and take on male roles within the community. Brotherboys have a strong sense of their cultural identity.

    Note: How the words Sistergirl and Brotherboy are used can differ between locations, countries and nations. These terms may not specifically define who someone is, but might complement identity. Sistergirls and Brotherboys might be non-binary, female or male. The terms Sistagirl and Brothaboy are different and are used by Aboriginal communities as terms of endearment for Aboriginal cis women (Sistagirl) and Aboriginal cis men (Brothaboy)

 

GENDER AFFIRMATION is an umbrella term for the range of actions and possibilities involved in trans and non-binary people living, surviving, and thriving as their authentic gendered selves. There is a range of ways that trans and non-binary people affirm their gender this can be through the clothes and hair styles they wear, removing or not removing body hair, make-up or other beauty products.

Some terms that are used to refer to Gender Affirming Practices are:

  • HRT / GAHT - Hormone Replacement Therapy, sometimes also known as Gender Affirming Hormonal Therapy or GAHT. This can consist of taking hormones and/or blocking existing hormones in the body.

  • PACKING - The use of a packer - a realistic or semi-realistic looking penis made out of material like silicone (or even just a rolled up sock). People can use packers for the shape it creates, to feel comfortable and confident, or just because they want to.

  • BINDING - A form of gender affirmation that involves flattening the chest with a tight top called a ‘binder’.

  • TUCKING - A form of gender affirmation whereby someone flattens the space between the legs using tight clothing or tape, creating a shape that some people find more comfortable or aesthetically pleasing, typically hiding the appearance of a bulge in the crotch.

  • PADDING - The use of bra inserts, breast forms or other forms of padding, with the intention of filling a bra cup or pushing up existing breast tissue.

 

Important Terminology about gender

  • Assigned Female at Birth/Designated Female at Birth

  • Assigned Male at Birth/Designated Male at Birth

  • Possessing both masculine and feminine traits. Presenting in a way that appears not entirely all masculine, or entirely all feminine. This can be in regards to fashion, gender, physical characteristics, etc. Androgynous people have always existed throughout history in many different cultures.

  • Assumes that everyone is cisgender and that all people will continue to identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Cisnormativity erases the existence of trans people.

  • A term that describes when two things oppose each other. For example man/woman, Binary Thinking assumes that there is only two options and places gender into rigid stereotypes of Man and Women

  • A term used by some trans people to describe the name they were given and known by prior to affirming their gender and/or coming out. Can also be used as a verb (i.e. to 'deadname' someone).

  • The distress or unease some trans and gender diverse people may experience associated with their gender, their bodies, or how those around them perceive their gender or unease sometimes experienced from being misgendered.

  • A positive and exciting feeling of one’s gendered self - the feeling of comfort, certainty, joy, or excitement people can feel about their body or identity.

  • Misgendering is a term for describing or addressing someone using language that does not match how that person identifies their own gender or body

  • Used to describe a whole range of negative feelings or behaviours towards anyone who is gender diverse or transgender people, their desires and/or behaviours, that can lead to discriminatory actions or abuse.