What Does It Mean To Be Transgender?
The word Trans is a large umbrella term for many different identities. These identities include but are not limited to Trans women, Trans men, non-binary folks, agender people, and genderqueer people. Trans men are people born female but identify as men. Trans women are people born male, but that identify as female. Agender people are people who identify as neither men nor women. Non-binary and genderqueer is an expansive definition that means that the person’s identity does not fit into the normal bounds of gender. This could mean that the person feels like they have multiple genders or that they feel more similar to one gender, but they don’t completely identify with that gender. As one can perceive, gender identity is a very complex experience and it is difficult to put into words. Gender identity can change over time. For instance, a person may identify as a non-binary person at a younger age, but later on, they may identify as a Trans woman. This does not mean that they were confused about their identity. It just shows that gender identity is not static.
How Does Someone Develop A Gender Identity?
Specialists in gender identity do not understand how exactly identity develops. Identity is complex. There are genetic factors, environmental factors, family factors, and societal factors. All these factors work together to create the unique experience of who we are. Many more youth are coming out as Trans and non-binary in the modern world. Societal recognition of Transness may have a huge influence on this. It has allowed people to open their identities to new possibilities. And this is wonderful because being Trans is good. When we have more Trans people in the world, we have a world filled with more possibilities and variations in what it means to be a human. Gender identity has constrained people for thousands of years. Capitalistic societies have tried to erase the existence of Trans people, but these identities have existed long before capitalism. An example of this is two-spirited people in indigenous societies. By having a world where people are free to explore many gender identities, we can begin to view one another in new ways, and not just see people as existing as either female or male.
Is There A Relation Between Gender And Sex?
Both gender and sex are social constructions. Gender is what it means to be a sex. For example, there are types of gendered behavior for women. Women are supposed to be feminine, soft, and empathetic. Whereas men are supposed to be tough, rigid, and the rock of the family. These representations of gender change within subcultures. For instance, in gay culture, lesbians are often described as being butch or having masculine qualities. At the end of the day, gender can be anything. Gender is just a word that helps conceptualize our experience.
What is sex? Sex is the physical parts of a person. This includes genitals, organs, and chromosomes. Like gender, there is a huge variation in sex. Many people are born with characteristics of both sexes. These people are called intersex. Fausto-Sterling (2000) states that about 1.7 percent of the population is intersex. Many people in our society do not even know they are intersex because the sexual variation is on a chromosomal level. For instance, someone could think they are a man but have the chromosomes of a female. This would cause no difficulties in the person’s life.
Pronouns And Gender
Gender identity is someone’s internal perspective of who they are. Pronouns are the words that someone likes to be called and these words are usually related to a gender concept. For instance, she is associated with being a woman, but this is not always the case. Some Trans people identify as men but like to use neutral pronouns. People can use pronouns that differ from their internal perception of their gender. The possibilities are endless, and it is just about what feels right for the person. This is the beauty of being human. There are so many ways to exist if we can open ourselves to all the content of our conscious and unconscious minds.
References
Fausto-Sterling, A. (2000). Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. New York: Basic Books.