The world of gender and sex is changing to become more open for those who do not identify themselves in what society considers “traditional”. The social norms are slowly changing for the better. Yet often people get confused between words like gender identity and gender expression, and how they fit in with traits like sexual orientation.
So let’s start with the most recognizable trait. Biological Sex is the genitalia one is born with regardless of how the mind identifies. Those organs combined with the hormone and chromosome make-up are labeled as female (XX), male (XY) and intersex which is a combination of the two.
Gender Identity on the other hand is how the mind identifies. These do not always match the biological sex. Those whose gender identities match are referred to as cisgender and those who do not are referred to as transgender. Woman and Man are the two ends of the spectrum of identification, but they are not the only parts of it. In fact more people are coming out as Genderqueer, which can mean they identify as both a woman and a man (in different variations or equally) or that they identify with neither.
This often, but not always, coincides with Gender Expression which is how someone visually represents themselves. This relates to the traditional gender roles of feminine and masculine, which meet in the middle at androgynous. Traditionally one who is gender fluid will change their gender expression to match the one they are connected to at the moment. This can be done through clothing choices, actions and/or behaviors that signify one gender or another.
Finally there is Sexual Orientation. This is probably the easiest concept to comprehend because it seems straightforward. Sexual Orientation is who a person is attracted to. It is a combined attraction of emotion, physical attributes and the gender/sex of one person to another. Most commonly referenced are homosexual (same sex attraction), heterosexual (opposite sex attraction) and bisexual (attraction to both sexes), but there are many more terms that can be used to describe someone’s sex life. For example, pansexual has had a rebirth in the current era, meaning a person can be attracted to any person regardless of gender. Don’t let the term get confusing though. Just because someone identifies as pansexual does not mean that they are attracted to everyone they meet. Instead see pansexual as being less restricted in terms of partners because they don’t follow tradition sexual orientation binaries.
These definitions are not the end all be all of these terms. Within each of these words are hundreds of other definitions and vocabulary being used to define how a person identifies and expresses themselves. Yet don’t fall into believing that everyone needs a cut and dried answer to define their gender or sexual orientation. In fact the numbers of people refusing to be limited by the binaries of tradition are growing.
Let these words serve as the building blocks for a future where all are accepted and seen for not who they love, but how they love.
Happy Hunting.
Works Referenced:
The Genderbread Person. Digital image. It’s Pronounced Metrosexual. Sam Killermann, 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. <