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Exploring Different Gender Identities
Identifying as a gender that falls outside of binary definitions of male or female can be an empowering experience, as it allows people to more accurately express their gender. Below, we’re exploring some of the more common gender identities that don’t fit within traditional binary constructs.
Non-Binary
Non-binary individuals may identify as a gender that doesn’t quite fit with the societal gender labels or may identify as no gender at all. Some examples of non-binary genders include agender, bigender, and genderfluid.1
Androgynous/Androgyne
Androgynous and androgyne individuals identify partially with the binary gender identities of both male and female. This gender expression can vary from embracing traditionally feminine clothing to presenting in a very androgynous way, for example, through their choice of hairstyle and clothing alike.
Intersex
Intersex is an umbrella term that describes a variety of medical conditions characterized by a person’s physical sex characteristics not fitting the traditional conventions of being male or female.2
Transgender
Transgender is an umbrella term used to describe people who have gender identities that don’t align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This gender identity can range from a person who identifies as their birth gender to a non-binary gender expression.
Consulting an LGBT Professional
Consulting an LGBT professional such as a therapist, doctor, or counselor, can provide further clarity and insight into exploring different gender identities. Questions regarding gender identity can help one process and ultimately become more comfortable with their own sense of gender.
Conclusion
explore the numerous gender identities that are commonly discussed and accepted today, as well as a few of the professionals one can consult in order to gain further understanding. Exploring different gender identities is a meaningful way of discovering one’s sense of self and living more authentically.
1 nonbinary.org, Non-Binary Gender Identities
2 thetrevorproject.org, What Does Intersex Mean?
