Gender Identity and Gender Expression

Gender identity and gender expression are frequently conflated. However, it is important to understand these as distinct concepts. This section provides an explanation of the difference between the concepts and provides resources for exploring them further.
  

What are Gender Identity and Gender Expression?

  • Gender Identity - How one sees oneself as a gendered person. Gender identity is one of our innermost, most intimately-felt concepts of self. Gender identity is frequently described using terms like “male” or “female,” "man" or "woman"--though this binary view of gender is troublesome, as it is at the root of much of the oppression experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. It is important to note that gender identity is how we view and describe ourselves, it is not defined by others' perceptions of us. Many people develop a gender identity that aligns with the social expectations of their sex assigned at birth. Others, however, experience their gender identity as different or separate from expectations based on their sex assigned at birth. Gender identity may be fluid or not, depending on the individual and their experiences. People who feel like their gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth, or people who feel like they do not fit in the boxes of "man" or "woman," or people who feel like their gender is fluid and always changing may identify as transgender (or they may not).

 

  • Gender Expression - Everything we do that expresses our gender: clothing, hair styles, mannerisms, way of speaking, tone of voice, ways of sitting in a chair or moving across a room, roles we take in interactions or relationships, and so on.  Gender expression is separate and distinct from both gender identity and sexual identity, but it often leads people to make assumptions about the gender identities and sexual identities of others. Gender expression is a spectrum, with infinite possibilities for feminine, masculine, androgynous, genderqueer, genderfluid and other expressions. Gender expression can vary for an individual from day to day or in different situations, but most people can identify a range on the spectrum where they feel the most comfortable. Some people are comfortable with a wider range of gender expression than others.


The above was adapted from The Center for Gender Sanity "Diagram of Sex and Gender."

For an introduction to the concepts of sex assigned at birth, gender identity and expression, and sexual identity, see this spectrum by The Trevor Project.

For a more advanced conversation about these concepts, see the Gender Unicorn by Trans Student Educational Resources.
 

What Does Transgender or Trans Mean?

Transgender, often trans for short, is an umbrella term for someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not align with social expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. The ways that trans people might challenge binary gender categories ranges from identifying differently than the gender one was assigned at birth, to cross dressing, to undergoing hormone therapy, to gender confirmation surgery, to other forms of dress/presentation. A trans person's experience might include all of these experiences or none of them. There is no one single way to be trans.

Another less widely known word related to gender identity is cisgender, or cis for short. Cisgender means a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. “Cisgender” is preferred to terms like “biological,” “genetic,” or “real” man or woman, as these terms suggest that transgender people’s genders are not authentic or legitimate.

For more information about terms related to sex assigned at birth, gender identity and expression, and sexual identity, see our list of definitions.

How To Be Supportive of Trans People in Your Life

The following are practices for supporting trans people in your life. If you are a professor seeking best practices for supporting trans students, please click here.

Even if you do not currently know any trans or gender non-conforming people (or, at least, you think you do not), below are good practices for treating people of diverse gender identities with respect:

  • Educate yourself about trans experiences and social issues by reading books, websites and blogs, attending trainings and conferences, and consulting with trans experts.
     
  • Be aware of your attitudes concerning people with gender non-conforming appearance or behavior.
     
  • Know that trans people belong to diverse sociocultural groups (e.g., race, social class, ideology, age, disability, etc.) and there is not one universal way to look or be trans.
     
  • Avoid assumptions about which pronouns people use. Refer to someone with the pronouns they have told you to use for them. If someone has not shared the pronouns they use with you, refer to them by their name. 
     
  • Refer to a person by the name they have provided you. If someone is trying out a new name and shares it with you, clarify when and where they want you to call them by that name to avoid outing them in certain situations.
     
  • Avoid making assumptions about trans people's sexual identity or sexual behavior, what their bodies look like, if they want hormonal or medical treatment, or other aspects of their identity or possible transition plans.
     
  • Don't ask questions of trans people that would seem rude or inappropriate if you asked a cisgender person. For example, asking someone what their genitals look like, details about their medical history, who they have sex with, and so on would not be appropriate in everyday conversation with a cisgender person, and it is also not appropriate when conversing with a trans person. If you have questions about trans experiences, health care, etc. educate yourself with resources created by trans people rather than looking to trans people in your life to educate you.
     
  • Remember that you cannot tell if someone is trans based on how they look. Some trans people are very gender conforming and feel good being a typical or traditional man or woman. However, others do not and might present more androgynously and/or may not identify as a man or a woman. Additionally, not all people who appear androgynous or gender nonconforming identify as transgender or desire gender affirmation treatment.
     
  • Keep the lines of communication open with the trans person in your life.
     
  • Get support in processing your own reactions. It can take some time to adjust to someone you know well transitioning. Having someone close to you transition will be an adjustment and can be challenging, especially for partners, parents, and children.
     
  • Seek support in dealing with your feelings. You are not alone. Mental health professionals and support groups for family, friends, and significant others of trans people can be useful resources.
     
  • Advocate for trans rights, including social and economic justice and appropriate psychological care. Familiarize yourself with the local and state or provincial laws that protect trans people from discrimination.
     

The above was adapted from Gender Neutral Housing: From A to Ze by Amanda Hobson and Lindsey Marx.

 

Resources

""PFLAG offers an excellent guide for people who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming called Welcoming Our Trans Family and Friends.  Additional resources are available on PFLAG's website. For resources related to coming out as trans, please see the Coming Out section.