
Transgender, or simply trans, is an adjective used to describe someone whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth. Society identifies these cues as masculine or feminine, although what is considered masculine or feminine changes over time and varies by culture.Ĭisgender, or simply cis, is an adjective that describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender expression is how a person presents gender outwardly, through behavior, clothing, voice or other perceived characteristics. For transgender people, gender identity differs in varying degrees from the sex assigned at birth. Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not outwardly visible to others.įor most people, gender identity aligns with the sex assigned at birth, the American Psychological Association notes. Gender identity is one's own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither or both.

Gender is often categorized as male, female or nonbinary. Gender is often defined as a social construct of norms, behaviors and roles that varies between societies and over time. Sex is typically categorized as male, female or intersex. Sex refers to a person's biological status and is typically assigned at birth, usually on the basis of external anatomy.

Jump to a term: Sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, agender, gender-expansive, gender transition, gender dysphoria, sexual orientation, intersex What's important is recognizing and respecting people as individuals. Some people may continue to use terms that are less commonly used now to describe themselves, and some people may use different terms entirely. Some of the terms now in common usage are different from those used in the past to describe similar ideas, identities and experiences. Other cultures may use different labels and have other conceptions of gender. This guide is not exhaustive, and is Western and U.S.-centric. We also referenced resources from the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Trans Journalists Association, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, Human Rights Campaign, InterAct and the American Psychological Association. This guide was created with help from GLAAD. Alex Schmider, associate director of transgender representation at GLAAD, compares using someone's correct pronouns to pronouncing their name correctly – "a way of respecting them and referring to them in a way that's consistent and true to who they are." Glossary of gender identity terms Proper use of gender identity terms, including pronouns, is a crucial way to signal courtesy and acceptance. Our goal is to help people communicate accurately and respectfully with one another. That's why we've put together a glossary of terms relating to gender identity.

These issues can involve words and ideas and identities that are new to some. Issues of equality and acceptance of transgender and nonbinary people - along with challenges to their rights - have become a major topic in the headlines. "And when you're speaking to people, it's a really simple way to affirm their identity." It's how someone refers to you in conversation," says Mary Emily O'Hara, a communications officer at GLAAD. For our research, we surveyed 111 cognitively able autistic adults about how their experiences of autism acceptance related to their mental health, and many commented on experiencing a negative reaction."Pronouns are basically how we identify ourselves apart from our name.

This results in differences in social communication and interactions, sensory experiences and restricted interests. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, meaning that the brain develops differently. While medical professionals have become much better at diagnosing autism, many people with the condition feel it is still not accepted as a potentially positive aspect of who they are. My colleagues and I recently published research that shows a lack of acceptance can significantly impact on the mental health of autistic adults. But one important factor is whether an individual’s autism is recognised and accepted by those around them. Unfortunately, we still don’t know why autistic people are at a higher risk for mental health problems than non-autistic people. Up to 70 per cent of autistic people experience mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, according to some research.
