BASIC
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TERMS
BIOLOGICAL
& VOCABULARY
SEX
The “sex assigned at birth” based on their physical body - the
anatomy and chromosomal makeup of a child.
INTERSEX
A medical condition in which a child is born with reproductive
or sexual anatomy varying from a typical male or female.
GENDER
EXPRESSION
Distinct from gender identity or sexual orientation, gender
expression is the ways people express their identities as men or
women (or both or neither) to their selves and in the world. GENDER
IDENTITY
Reflects our internal understanding of who we are as a man or a
woman – or both or neither. Gender identity is about what’s in our
mind; it’s who we know ourselves to be regardless of body parts.
CISGENDER
A person whose biological sex and gender identity are aligned,
i.e. an individual assigned male at birth who grows up to
identify as a man.
TRANSGENDER
Generally used as an umbrella that includes all gender-diverse
people, transgender can also be used more specifically for
transgender people who transition from their assigned sex at
birth to their affirmed gender. GENDER-QUEER,
GENDER-FLUID,
NONCONFORMING,
GENDER
GENDER-EXPANSIVE,
GENDER-DIVERSE
Newer terms used to describe individuals who experience their
gender identity as more fluid, or not neatly fitting into one of the
two binary boxes labeled “male” or “female.”
Some gender-queer people see themselves as both male and
female; some as neither; some believe the male/female
categories are not broad enough to encapsulate their identity;
some believe those categories are irrelevant to their identity.
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SEXUAL
ORIENTATION
Unlike gender identity, sexual orientation is about our physical
and emotional attraction to other people, and whether we tend
to be attracted to people of the opposite sex/gender or people
of the same sex/gender, or both/all sexes/genders.
REMEMBER
We all have both a gender identity and a sexual orientation.
Don't make assumptions about someone’s gender
identity based on their appearance (gender expression).
If you are not sure, respectfully ask them what name and
pronouns they prefer.
Use an individual’s affirmed name and pronouns
regardless of the current status of their “legal” name
and/or sex assigned at birth.
Every human being deserves to be acknowledged and
respected for who they know themselves to be.
Learn more at wwnorton.com/psych