Do you have questions about gender identity?

Well, you've come to the right place! In this section, we'll break down what gender identity means, and then we'll introduce you to the gender unicorn, which is a great example to help you think about the issue of gender.

What is gender identity?

Gender identity refers to how a person perceives and defines themselves in relation to gender (male, female, both, neither, or another gender). It is an intimate and personal experience that may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth, which is determined based on biological characteristics.

Here are three important points to help you better understand gender identity:

  • Binary versus non-binary
    Binary gender refers to the male-female model, in which people identify solely as male or female. In a nonbinary model, people can place themselves outside or between these two genders (for example, by identifying as gender-fluid, agender, or nonbinary—neither male nor female).
  • Cisgender and transgender
    •  A person is cisgender when their gender identity—the gender with which they identify—matches the gender assigned to them at birth.
      Ex: I identify as a man, and I was assigned male at birth.
    • A person is transgender when their gender identity does not match the one assigned at birth.
      Ex: A person who identifies as a woman but was born with the biological sex of a man.
  • Not related to sexual orientation
    Gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation. Sexual orientation refers to romantic or sexual attraction, while gender identity refers to how a person perceives their own gender.

Gender identity is a fundamental part of who you are and can change over time. This concept helps us understand that everyone has the right to define themselves and express their gender authentically, using the terms that best represent them.