What is gender identity?

Our gender identity is how we feel in relation to being male or female. It’s not always just about what our body looks like. It’s how we prefer to express our gender and it’s how we like to be identified. Most people will take their gender identity for granted and won’t question this i.e. a woman or girl who feels she is female and a man or boy who feels he is male.

For some people however this does not match and it raises a lot of questions.  The gender role that society expect them to fit into based on their birth sex doesn’t always match their gender identity. Transgender is the broad term used to describe someone with a gender identity different to the one they were assigned with at birth. See below for transgender definitions.

What our sex is and what our gender identity is means different things:

• Sex: refers to someone's biological identity as a male or female – characterised by having male or female genitalia i.e. penis or a vagina.
• Gender: features of maleness or femaleness expressed through personal characteristics – society plays a large part in defining “acceptable” male and female roles, though many of us feel that we don't fit fully into either of these definitions. A personal feeling of maleness, femaleness, or being somewhere in between is known as our Gender Identity.

Here is a useful way to think about gender:

• Your physical body- as well as your genitals this includes your reproductive system, your chromosomes and characteristics like breast or facial hair.
• Your gender identity- how you feel in relation to being a man or a woman.
• Your gender expression- you show your gender. This could be characteristics, clothing, behaviour, or interests.

Transgender Definitions

For many people their gender identity matches their physical body. There are some who find that the three elements above don’t match up. The word transgender is used as a broad term to describe a range of different gender identities.

Here are some of the terms that are used to describe various gender identities:

• Transexual Man- This is someone who was biologically female at birth but has a male gender identity and has changed or transitioned to live permanently as a man.
• Transexual Woman- This is someone who was biologically male at birth but has a female gender identity and has transitioned to live permanently as a woman.
• Intersex people- This is when a person is born with genitals, reproductive system or chromosomes that are in between male or female.
• Androgyne People- There is no one definition but some people identify themselves as having male and female characteristics, or they identify with neither male nor female genders.
• Cross-Dressing or Transvestite People- People who dress in clothes associated with their opposite gender but is happy with their biological gender and don’t want to change it.

Transitioning

As transgender is a broad term to describe many gender identities not all transgender people transition or require gender reassignment. However, most transgender people will experience a period of transition. Transitioning is when transgender people either change their gender expression to match their gender identity or when transsexual people begin to live as their preferred gender.

Not all transsexual people may want to undergo gender reassignment although many do so their body better matches their gender identity. Transitioning can be different for everyone ranging from minor changes like dressing in different clothes, changing your hair to changing your name, taking hormones or surgery.

What does ‘Coming Out’ mean?

Coming out refers to the process, usually by which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people experiencetelling others about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This can be difficult because there is still a lot of stigma and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) people.  There is often no way of being sure about how people will react and this can be scary.
Sometimes when LGBT people do tell others about their sexual orientation or gender identity it can be a liberating and life changing experience because it may mean they no longer have to hide how they really feel.

Coming out can be an ongoing process with different milestones from self acceptance and coming to yourself to telling friends, family, school mates or work colleagues. Coming out can involve daily decision making, especially in new situations whether it’s a new school, college or sports club.

LGBT people come out at all stages of their lives and may choose only to tell certain people or live fully as themselves. Most LGBT people really need to trust someone before telling them and it’s up to them to tell others when they are ready rather than anyone else doing it for them without their permission.

For more information about coming out have a read of LGBT Youth's coming out guide- you can find it under related documents on this page.

More...

LGBT Youth Scotland- Information and services for all LGBT young people in Scotland.

Scottish Transgender Alliance- provides guidance to service providers and info to support transgender people.

Equality Network- Campaigns for equality for LGBT people in Scotland.

The Gender Trust- supports people who are affected by gender identity issues.

Mermaids -Support for young people, up to the age of 19, who are trying to cope with gender identity issues.

Gendered Intelligence-A project where trans people under the age of 25 can meet one another and talk about what it's been like for them. They can often pay for all travel expenses,  no matter where you come from in the UK. On the website, you can find out more and sign up for updates to keep informed.

Videos

A team of young volunteers from Brook made some videos asking young people and professionals about what gender means to young people. You can view these videos below.