An individual's affirmed gender is the gender that aligns with their internal sense of self, or gender identity. It's the gender they know themselves to be, regardless of the gender they were assigned at birth.
Understanding Affirmed Gender
Affirmed gender is a crucial concept in understanding transgender and gender diverse experiences. It moves away from relying on societal assumptions based on biological sex assigned at birth and instead centers the individual's own understanding of their gender.
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Gender Identity: This is an individual's internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere else along the gender spectrum. It's deeply personal and may or may not align with assigned sex at birth.
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Assigned Sex at Birth: This is the designation given at birth, typically based on external genitalia. It's often categorized as male or female.
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Affirmed Gender vs. Assigned Sex: When a person's gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth, their affirmed gender is the gender that accurately reflects their internal sense of self. For instance, someone assigned female at birth (AFAB) who identifies as a man, their affirmed gender is male.
Examples of Affirmed Gender
Here are some examples to illustrate the concept:
- A person assigned male at birth (AMAB) identifies as a woman. Their affirmed gender is female.
- A person assigned female at birth (AFAB) identifies as non-binary. Their affirmed gender is non-binary.
- A person assigned male at birth (AMAB) identifies as male. Their affirmed gender is male (cisgender).
Why is Affirmed Gender Important?
Recognizing and respecting a person's affirmed gender is essential for:
- Mental Health and Well-being: Being acknowledged and affirmed in one's gender identity significantly contributes to self-esteem, reduces feelings of dysphoria (discomfort or distress caused by a mismatch between gender identity and assigned sex), and improves overall mental health.
- Respect and Dignity: Using correct pronouns and names, and generally treating a person according to their affirmed gender is a basic act of respect and acknowledges their inherent dignity.
- Social Inclusion: Affirming gender creates more inclusive and accepting environments in schools, workplaces, and communities.
- Access to Appropriate Healthcare: Understanding a person's affirmed gender is crucial for providing appropriate and gender-affirming healthcare.
In conclusion, affirmed gender is a core aspect of someone's identity and respecting it is vital for their well-being and social inclusion. It reflects the understanding that gender identity is an internal experience, and affirming that identity is a fundamental right.
