Gender identity

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The internal sense of one's own gender, regardless of assigned sex at birth.

What is gender identity?

"Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender."

How does gender identity relate to assigned sex?

"Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it."

Can gender expression always reflect a person's gender identity?

"While a person may express behaviors, attitudes, and appearances consistent with a particular gender role, such expression may not necessarily reflect their gender identity."

Who coined the term gender identity?

"The term gender identity was coined by psychiatry professor Robert J. Stoller in 1964."

What is the gender binary?

"The gender binary refers to a basic division between gender attributes assigned to males and females in most societies."

What are some terms people may use if they do not identify with assigned gender attributes?

"Some of those people may call themselves transgender, gender non-binary, genderqueer, gender expansive, or something else."

Are there societies with third gender categories?

"Some societies have third gender categories."

What is the age at which gender identity appears to become at least partially irreversible?

"Gender identity develops surprisingly rapidly in the early childhood years, and in the majority of instances appears to become at least partially irreversible by the age of 3 or 4."

Is there scientific evidence supporting a biological element underlying gender identity?

"Considerable scientific evidence has emerged demonstrating a durable biological element underlying gender identity."

Can external forces genuinely cause individuals to change their gender identity?

"There do not seem to be external forces that genuinely cause individuals to change gender identity."

What is the argument of essentialists regarding gender identity?

"Essentialists argue that gender identity is determined at birth by biological and genetic factors."

What is the argument of social constructivists regarding gender identity?

"Social constructivists argue that gender identity and the way it is expressed are socially constructed, instead determined by cultural and social influences."

Who popularized the term gender identity?

"The term gender identity was...popularized by the controversial psychologist John Money."

What are the various aspects of gender that are included in society's expectations?

"The gender binary includes expectations of masculinity and femininity in all aspects of sex and gender: biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation."

Is gender identity typically congruent with the various biological determinants of sex?

"In most individuals, the various biological determinants of sex are congruent, and consistent with the individual's gender identity."

Are there exceptions to the development of gender identity?

"With exceptions, 'Gender identity develops surprisingly rapidly in the early childhood years.'"

What does the Endocrine Society state about factors influencing gender identity?

"Individuals may make choices due to other factors in their lives, but there do not seem to be external forces that genuinely cause individuals to change gender identity."

What is the role of cultural and social influences in determining gender identity?

"Gender identity and the way it is expressed are socially constructed, instead determined by cultural and social influences."

Can individuals choose their gender identity?

"Individuals may make choices due to other factors in their lives."

What is the consensus on the irreversibility of gender identity?

"Gender identity...appears to become at least partially irreversible by the age of 3 or 4."