Gender Identity
Gender identity is an individual’s deeply held sense of being male, female or another gender. This is separate from biological sex.
Some children become aware at a very young age that their gender identity does not align with their physical sex characteristics, even expressing the disconnect as soon as they can talk. Other transgender and gender-expansive people recognize their gender identity during adolescence or adulthood.
Individuals whose biological sex and gender identity “match” rarely think about the alignment of biology and identity because they have the privilege of being considered normal by society. People whose gender identity and biological sex align are called cisgender.
Transgender people, however, have gender identities that do not correspond with their sex at birth. Transgender individuals may alter their physical appearance, often through hormonal therapy and/or surgery, in order to affirm their gender identity, though not all choose to do so.
Gender Expression
Gender expression can be defined as the way we show our gender to the
world around us. Societal expectations of gender expression are reinforced
in almost every area of life. Even very young children are clear about the
gendered choices that boys and girls are “supposed to” make in relation to
toys, colors, clothes, games and activities.
Girls whose gender expression is seen as somewhat masculine are often
considered tomboys. Depending on the context and the degree to which
they transgress norms, tomboys might be seen positively, neutrally or
negatively. Positive or neutral labels are harder to come by for boys whose
sex and gender expression are seen as incongruent. Common words used
to describe such boys tend to be delivered with negative—sometimes
hateful—intentions, words like sissy, stabane, moffie and faggot. There also
is little room for boys to expand their gender expression. Just wearing a
scarf or walking in a stereotypically feminine way can lead to abuse from
peers, educators or family members.