"Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender."
The internal sense of one's own gender.
Biological sex: The biological features of an individual that determine whether they are male, female, or intersex.
Gender identity: One's internal sense of being male, female, or somewhere in between, which may or may not align with their biological sex.
Masculinity: A set of traits traditionally associated with men, such as strength, assertiveness, and independence.
Femininity: A set of traits traditionally associated with women, such as nurturing, compassion, and emotional sensitivity.
Gender roles: The societal expectations and norms that dictate how men and women should behave, dress, and interact with others.
Gender expression: The way in which one presents their gender to the outside world, such as through clothing, hairstyles, and behavior.
Transgender: A person whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex at birth.
Gender dysphoria: The discomfort or distress that may result from a mismatch between one's gender identity and their biological sex.
Gender non-conforming: A person whose gender expression does not conform to traditional gender norms.
Cisgender: A person whose gender identity aligns with their biological sex at birth.
Gender fluid: A person whose gender identity may fluctuate or change over time.
Androgyny: The combination of masculine and feminine traits or characteristics in an individual.
Intersex: A person who is born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical male or female classifications.
Gender stereotypes: Widely-held beliefs about the behaviors, abilities, and characteristics of men and women based on their gender.
Patriarchy: A social system that privileges men over women and perpetuates gender inequality.
Sexism: Discrimination or prejudice based on an individual's gender.
LGBTQ+ terminology: An understanding of commonly-used terms when discussing sexual orientation and gender identity, such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer.
Intersectionality: The recognition of how multiple social identities, such as race, gender, and sexuality, intersect and impact an individual's experiences and opportunities.
Gender-based violence: Physical, sexual, or psychological harm inflicted on an individual based on their gender.
Heteronormativity: The assumption that heterosexuality is the normative and preferred sexual orientation.
Cisgender: This refers to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Transgender: This refers to individuals who experience their gender identity as different from the sex assigned to them at birth.
Genderfluid: This refers to individuals whose gender identity is fluid, changing over time or in different contexts.
Nonbinary: This refers to individuals who do not identify as exclusively male or female.
Bigender: This refers to individuals who identify as having two distinct gender identities.
Agender: This refers to individuals who do not identify with any gender.
Genderqueer: This is an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity does not fit into the traditional binary of male or female.
Androgynous: This refers to individuals who have a gender expression that is a mix of masculine and feminine traits.
Two-Spirit: This term is used by some Indigenous cultures to describe individuals who embody both masculine and feminine traits.
"Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it."
"While a person may express behaviors, attitudes, and appearances consistent with a particular gender role, such expression may not necessarily reflect their gender identity."
"The term gender identity was coined by psychiatry professor Robert J. Stoller in 1964."
"The gender binary refers to a basic division between gender attributes assigned to males and females in most societies."
"Some of those people may call themselves transgender, gender non-binary, genderqueer, gender expansive, or something else."
"Some societies have third gender categories."
"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."
"Considerable scientific evidence has emerged demonstrating a durable biological element underlying gender identity."
"There do not seem to be external forces that genuinely cause individuals to change gender identity."
"Essentialists argue that gender identity is determined at birth by biological and genetic factors."
"Social constructivists argue that gender identity and the way it is expressed are socially constructed, instead determined by cultural and social influences."
"The term gender identity was...popularized by the controversial psychologist John Money."
"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."
"In most individuals, the various biological determinants of sex are congruent, and consistent with the individual's gender identity."
"With exceptions, 'Gender identity develops surprisingly rapidly in the early childhood years.'"
"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."
"Gender identity and the way it is expressed are socially constructed, instead determined by cultural and social influences."
"Individuals may make choices due to other factors in their lives."
"Gender identity...appears to become at least partially irreversible by the age of 3 or 4."