Your gender is your deeply-held inner feeling of whether you are female, male, both, or neither. It's how you internally identify, regardless of what others see.
Understanding Gender Identity
Gender identity is an internal experience. It's not the same as the sex you were assigned at birth. Here are some key concepts:
- Gender Identity: Your personal sense of being a man, a woman, both, or neither.
- Assigned Sex at Birth: The label (male or female) given to you at birth based on physical characteristics.
- Cisgender: When your gender identity matches the sex you were assigned at birth.
- Transgender: When your gender identity differs from the sex you were assigned at birth.
Exploring Your Gender
To understand your own gender identity, consider these questions:
- Do you feel like a man, a woman, both, or neither?
- Is your internal sense of self aligned with the sex you were assigned at birth?
- How do you internally identify?
- Do you feel the need to express your gender outwardly?
The Range of Gender Identities
Gender identity is diverse and can include:
- Man (or Boy): Identifying as male.
- Woman (or Girl): Identifying as female.
- Both: Identifying as both male and female.
- Neither: Not identifying as male or female.
Important Notes:
- Gender identity is internal and personal.
- It can only be determined by you.
- It is not based on how others see you.
- It is valid regardless of societal expectations.
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Gender Identity | Your internal feeling of being male, female, both, or neither. |
| Assigned Sex | The label (male or female) given at birth based on physical characteristics. |
| Cisgender | When your gender identity matches the sex you were assigned at birth. |
| Transgender | When your gender identity differs from the sex you were assigned at birth. |
Conclusion
Your gender identity is a deeply personal experience that you define for yourself. It's about your internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither, and that is something only you can know.
