"Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender."
Refers to a person's sense of self as male, female, or something else. Gender identity is often closely related to a person's gender expression and presentation.
Gender identity: The personal sense of one's own gender, which may or may not conform to the gender assigned at birth.
Sex: Biological and physiological characteristics that define male and female.
Gender roles: Societal expectations and norms for behavior and attitudes based on one's sex and gender identity.
Gender expression: The way individuals express their gender identity through clothing, hairstyles, behavior, and other means.
Gender dysphoria: Distress or discomfort caused by the incongruence between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
Transgender: Individuals whose gender identity does not match the sex assigned at birth.
Cisgender: Individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned at birth.
Non-binary: Individuals who do not identify exclusively as male or female.
Intersex: Individuals born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical male or female definitions.
Gender socialization: The process by which an individual learns gender roles and expectations through cultural and societal influences.
Intersectionality: An approach considering how social and cultural identities, such as race, gender, and sexuality, interact to shape an individual's experiences.
Queer theory: A critical examination of social norms and assumptions surrounding sexuality, gender identity, and power dynamics.
Gender inequality: The unequal treatment and opportunities for individuals based on their gender identity.
Misogyny: A cultural and societal belief in the inferiority of women and feminine-presenting individuals.
Patriarchy: A social system in which men hold the majority of power and influence.
Feminism: A movement focused on advocating for gender equality and challenging patriarchal norms and structures.
Toxic masculinity: Stereotypical and harmful definitions of masculinity that promote aggression, dominance, and emotional repression.
LGBTQ+ rights: The fight for equal rights, protection, and representation for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more.
Pronoun usage: Recognizing and respecting individuals' preferred pronouns, which may differ from their sex assigned at birth.
Safe spaces: Physical and digital spaces created to be inclusive and supportive for individuals of all gender identities and expressions.
"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."