Key Terms
Here is a small introduction to basic terms and information that may be useful when first discovering your identity or learning about the transgender and nonbinary community. The definitions given here may differ between people or groups, and care should be taken to use the definition which those people or groups are the most comfortable with.
Sex – biological traits of a person present at birth (primary and secondary sexual characteristics, chromosomes, hormonal balance, etc.
Gender (societal) – social or cultural distinctions associated with a person’s perceived sex (masculine vs. feminine, etc.
Gender (identity) – the identity that a person assigns themselves, regardless of any physical traits (male, female, etc.)
Transgender – gender identities in which the person’s gender identity differs from the physical sex they were assigned at birth
Cisgender – a gender identity in which a person’s gender identity aligns to the physical sex they were assigned at birth
Intersex – a person born with primary sex characteristics that have neither completely male nor completely female anatomy
Nonbinary – gender identities that is not exclusively female nor exclusively male; this can intersect with transgender identity or be another gender entirely
Gender Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is the term used to describe feeling that one's biological sex does not match one's gender identity.Once know as Gender Identity Disorder, the name was changed in the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by the American Psychiatric Association) to gender dysphoria because its former name implied that this feeling was a mental disorder. Gender dysphoria may include discomfort or even distress with one’s primary sexual characteristics (genetalia) or one’s secondary sexual characterists (breast, facial hair, etc.), but this should not be considered mandatory symptoms for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
The distress that may be caused by gender dysphoria cannot be underestimated. Many people experiencing gender dysphoria may also experience depression, anxiety, social isolation, and suicidal tendencies.
The distress that may be caused by gender dysphoria cannot be underestimated. Many people experiencing gender dysphoria may also experience depression, anxiety, social isolation, and suicidal tendencies.
Passing
Passing is generally seen as a person’s ability to be seen as their desired gender by the general public. The act of passing is most often associated with how a person dresses or styles their hair. But passing also involves a change in social cues (how a person walks, sits, etc.) and speaking voice/patterns. Passing is NOT a prerequisite for a transgender/nonbinary individual. Some people may have less natural ability to pass, may not wish to pass, or may be in a position in which they are unable to live looking like their desired gender.
Pronouns
Another good thing to recognize is the variety of pronouns that a transgender/nonbinary individual may choose to use. A pronoun is a word takes the place of the noun. In the case of people, it takes the place of their name.
There are a lot more pronouns than you would think! Here are a just a few:
There are a lot more pronouns than you would think! Here are a just a few:
He/him
She/her
They/them
Xe/xir
Ze/hir
E/eir
She/her
They/them
Xe/xir
Ze/hir
E/eir