Gender Studies

The way a person expresses themselves does not indicate a person’s gender identity. And a person’s gender identity is not indicative of their pronouns. It’s always best to ask a person’s pronouns, instead of assuming.

As previously stated, transgender is an umbrella identity that describes a person whose gender identity differs from their assigned gender at birth. 

Binary and nonbinary:

Under this umbrella, there are two other umbrellas: binary and nonbinary.

A binary trans person is a transgender person whose gender identity falls under the gender binary of male and female. These include trans men (whose gender assigned at birth is female, but their gender identity is male) and trans women (whose gender assigned at birth is male, but their gender identity is female). 

A nonbinary trans person is a transgender person whose gender identity does not fall under male or female. This includes a various number of identities. Because of this, not every term is discussed here. 

Here are some examples:

• Genderqueer describes a nonbinary trans person who describes their gender as “non-normative,” or even as “queer.” Genderqueer is often used interchangeably with nonbinary.
• Demigender describes a nonbinary trans person who has a partial connection to a given gender. For example, a demi girl/woman/fem describes a nonbinary trans, a person who has a partial connection to the gender of girl/woman, or just femininity.
• Agender describes a nonbinary trans person who feels an absence of gender, has a neutral gender, rejects gender as a concept, or does not have a connection to any particular gender.
• Genderfluid is an umbrella identity that describes a nonbinary trans person whose gender identity changes over time; a person’s gender identity can align with any gender at any given time (it can change at random, or in response to different circumstances).
• Neutrois describes a nonbinary trans person whose gender identity can be described as neutral, or null.
• Bigender describes a nonbinary trans person who has/experiences two genders. There are other gender identities similar to bigender, such as trigender.

A person’s name, gender identity, or how they express themselves does not indicate their pronouns. It’s always best to ask for a person’s pronouns, rather than assume.

There are many different types of personal pronouns. There are the three you most likely know: she/her/hers, he/him/his, and they/them/theirs. There are also neopronouns. Neopronouns are personal pronouns used as alternative gender-neutral and/or third-person singular pronouns. 

This is not a comprehensive list, as there are many types of neopronouns, but here are some examples:

• Ze/zir/zirs (pronounced zee/zhere/zheres)
• Xe/xem/xyrs (pronounced zhee/zhym/zhyres)
• Fae/faer/faers (pronounced fay/fayer/fayers)
• Ze/hir/hirs (pronounced zee/here/heres)
• Per/per/pers
• Noun/noun/(noun)self (any noun can be used–ex. bun/bun/bunself)

Here are examples of the pronouns previously listed and how to use them in a sentence:

Pronouns:

1. She/her/hers
2. He/him/his                                         
3. They/them/theirs
4. Ze/zir/zirs
5. Xe/xem/xyrs
6. Fae/faer/faers
7. Ze/hir/hirs
8. Per/per/pers
9. Noun/noun/nouns

Sentence example:

1. She was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with her to go to the house that is now hers.
2. He was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with him to go to the house that is now his.
3. They were walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with them to go to the house that is now theirs.
4. Ze was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with zir to go to the house that is now zirs.
5. Xe was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with xem to go to the house that is now xyrs.
6. Fae was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with faer to go to the house that is now faears.
7. Ze was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with hir to go to the house that is now hirs.
8. Per was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with per to go to the house that is now pers.
9. Noun was walking on the sidewalk. A dog was walking with noun to go to the house that is now nouns.

Examples for Men:

Male-identifying persons (or those who are socialized as male) are more associated with:

• Physical and sexual aggression
• Having a higher social capital
• Being less likely to admit faults
• Physical activity
• Minimal expressiveness
• Being more work centered
• Being sociable in large groups
• Competitiveness 
• “Masculine” subjects in school and the workplace, such as science, economics, and math
• “Masculine” occupations, such as a doctor or lawyer

Examples for Women: 

Female identifying persons (or those who are socialized as female) are more associated with: 

• Emotional aggression
• Being sociable in small groups
• Have more intimate, enjoyable, and nurturing relationships/friendships
• Being more family centered
• Mediation
• Not working for pay (ex. Housewife, stay-at-home mom)
• Being satisfied with gainful employment
• Being more emotional
• “Feminine” subjects in school and the workplace, such as English, history, and home economics
• Higher and postsecondary education 
• “Feminine” occupations, such as a nurse or teacher

The Harm of Gender Roles and How to Break Them:

Gender roles put people in one of two boxes depending on someone’s sex assigned to them at birth. While many people are comfortable with the roles imposed to them based on their sex, many are not. And it is ok if you do not fit the ascribed role you were assigned at birth, or even if you do not fit into either role.

 It is also ok if you do not ascribe to the gender roles imposed to you at birth, but still find that you are aligned with your sex assigned at birth. This is because gender identity is not tied to how you express your gender identity, because every person has a different relationship with their gender. But no matter your gender identity, the sex assigned to you at birth, or the gender roles imposed to you at birth, you are valid. Because everyone has different experiences and that is great. 

So do not feel constricted by the gender roles imposed on you at birth and express yourself in whatever makes you the most comfortable.

•  United States: Native American tribes of the Great Plains view gender on a spectrum from male, female, transgender, and intersex. Native American two-spirit people are male, female, and sometimes intersex individuals who combine activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as two-spirit people and had high importance spiritually.

• Italy: In the 15th-17th centuries, during the early Renaissance, “masculine love” was a term used to describe male homosexual orientation (also used in England and France). Michelangelo wrote many poems that described homosexuality and had homosexual themes; however this was edited out later.

• Albania: Women that were identified as “Burnesha” who take a chastity vow at a young age can live like a traditional male and assume traditionally male roles in society and family.

• Ancient Greece: From 6th century BCE- 6th century CE, homosexuality was accepted and widely practiced. The philosopher Plato described a third sex that was both male and female.

• China: Homosexuality was a sign of elitism and was not persecuted. Dated back over 2000 years, Scholar Pan Guangdan came to the conclusion that many emperors in the Han dynasty had one or more male sex partners.

Difference between Sex, Gender, and Intersex:

• Sex: Refers to biology (reproductive organs, chromosomes, etc.)

• Gender: Refers to how people feel (who they are.)

• Gender Expression: How a person publicly presents their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearance such as dress, hair, make-up, body language and voice. A person's chosen name and pronoun are also common ways of expressing gender.

• Sexuality: Is a person’s sexual orientation or attraction (Gay, Lesbian, Straight, etc.)

• Intersex: Are people who share a combination of both male and female biological traits. (Chromosomes, genitalia, etc.)

Difference between Cisgender and Transgender:

Cisgender: Someone who is Cisgender (Cis) is someone whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth.

Transgender: Someone who is Transgender (Trans) is someone whose gender identity is different than their assigned sex at birth.