The Transgender Dictionary

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Gender

Table of Contents

Introduction

Often conflated with the concept of biological sex, gender is a social construct made up of various factors. While many people assume that another person's gender can be determined instantaneously through visual observation, or predetermined upon inspection of an infant's genitalia, this is not always the case. Gender is a complex and highly individualized experience.

Anyone at any age can question their gender, and how it may or may not differ from what was imposed upon them upon being born. For most people, this questioning has a predictible conlusion. People born with vulvas typically identify as women, prefer she/her pronouns, present femininely, and are attracted to men. People born with penises typicaly identify as men, prefer he/him pronouns, present masculinly, and are attracted to women.

This is, of course, not always the case. Not everyone is heterosexual, nor is everyone cisgender. For many, many people now and throughout history - questioning of gender leads in unexpected directions.

General Information

The two most common categories people use to explain their gender are that of masculinity and femininity. Those who identify as women (either cisgender or transgender) generally express themselves using femininity, while those who identify as men (either cisgender or transgender) generally express themselves using masculinity. As with any rule, there are exceptions to this in the cases of masculine women and feminine men.

Aside from these two binary categories, there are of course enbans who may express themselves using even more unconventional combinations of masculinity and/or femininity (or even presenting as an absence of both). Additionally, there are xenans who choose to define their genders using other aesthetical references.

As the human experiences is so vast and varied, there are essentially infinite ways in which gender can be displayed and experienced. Over the years, numerous diagrams have been created to help explain the concept of gender to others. These diagrams can be summaries as generally attempting to express the following; internal sense of self, external appearance, and biological aspects.

Gender Roles

Gender Presentation

How an individual chooses to present themself will vary based on their gender identity.

See also the pages for nonbinary, transfeminine, and transmasculine.

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