Sexual Identity
and Gender Identity Terms
This page is designed to give heterosexuals and
people who are
just starting to think of coming out some basic common terms
with the gender and sexual identity communities, so that they
can speak somewhat intelligently with members of these communities
without seriously offending people or appearing totally clueless.
Keep in mind that:
The definitions of these words are not standardized
throughout
society, and are used differently by different individuals and
in
different regions. In particular, these definitions assume the
existence of two and only two each of "sexes", "genders",
and
"sex/gender roles", which are separate and distinct
from one another; but many people see them as overlapping, closely
related, or as a limited view or model of a much richer reality.
The meanings of words change over time. Changes
in thinking and attitudes toward sexual and gender identity
are taking place in society as a whole and within the sexual
and gender identity
communities. The meanings of these words will continue to change.
For instance, some words are listed For example, there is a
slow but clear movement in society away from thinking of most
human behaviors as appropriate to one sex and not appropriate
to another, toward thinking of most human behaviors as appropriate
to both sexes and both genders.
"Sexual Identity" and "Gender Identity"
are similar in some ways and very different in others. Both
refer to how one thinks of a person. The existence and perpetuation
of gender and sexual identities is based in the historic and
continuing oppression (systematic mistreatment condoned by society
as a whole) of people do not conform to certain aspects of society's
gender roles. Gender roles refer to the clothing, behaviors,
thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc., that are considered
appropriate or inappropriate for members of each sex.
However, "sex", "gender identity",
and "sexual identity" refer to
different aspects of oneself. Therefore, one may be any combination
of sex (male/female), gender (masculine/feminine), and sexual
identity (straight, bisexual, lesbian/gay.) In recent history,
people oppressed on the basis of different sexual identities
(bisexuals, lesbians, gay men) and people oppressed on the basis
of gender identity have formed communities which are partly
separate and partly overlapping with one another. Because of
this historic separation, someone who is a member of one of
these communities does not necessarily understand and prioritize
the issues of others of these communities. One who belongs to
more than one of these communities may feel welcome in both,
but usually neither addresses all one's needs or the way that
one's needs from different communities overlap or interact.
"Gender identity" refers to how one
thinks of one's own gender:
whether one thinks of oneself as a man (masculine) or as a woman
(feminine.) Society prescribes arbitrary rules or "gender
roles" (how one is supposed to and not supposed to dress,
act, think, feel, relate to others, think of oneself, etc.)
based on one's "sex" (whether one has a vagina or
a penis.) These gender roles are called "feminine"
and "masculine". Anyone who does not abide by these
arbitrary rules may be targeted for mistreatment ranging from
not being included in people's circle of friends, through the
cold shoulder, snide comments, verbal harrassment, assault,
rape, and murder based on one's (perceived) gender identity.
"Sexual identity" refers to how one
thinks of oneself in terms of whom one is sexually and romantically
attracted to, specifically whether one is attracted to members
of the same gender as one's own or the other gender than one's
own. Society prescribes arbitrary rules that one should be sexually
and romantically attracted to members of the other gender than
one's own, and should not be attracted to members of the same
gender as one's own. Anyone who does not abide by these arbitrary
rules may be targeted for mistreatment ranging from not being
included in people's circle of friends, through the cold shoulder,
snide comments, verbal harrassment, assault, rape, and murder
based on one's (perceived) sexual identity. (See homophobia
and biphobia.) When one's sex and one's gender identity are
different, one may base one's sexual identity on either one.
Alternatively, one may have two sexual identities, one as a
man and one as a woman.
These are terms often used within the sexual identity
and gender
identity communities. Self-identification terms are often spelled
with initial caps (e.g. Queer, Bisexual) to emphasize that they
refer to how one think of oneself, rather than how someone else
labels one. (For instance, researchers often classify bisexual-identified
women and men as lesbians and gay men and transvestites as transsexuals,
obscuring important distinctions.)
Androgenous/Androgeny: One who is / the
quality of simultaneously exhibiting "masculine" and
"feminine" characteristics..
Bigendered: One who switches between masculine
and feminine gender roles from time to time.
Biphobia: The oppression or mistreatment
of Bisexuals, especially by lesbians and gay men. (See homophobia.)
Bisexual: One who has significant sexual
and romantic attractions to members of both the same and the
other sex, or who identify as members of the bisexual community.
Derogatory terms include the same terms as are applied to lesbians
and gay men. Derogatory terms from lesbians, gay men, and some
heterosexuals: fence sitter, AC/DC, double-gaited,
confused.
Boy: 1. A young male. 2. Colloquial term
for "masculine". Often used to specify gender of clothes.
["My boy clothes."] "Boy" has often been
used as a condescending term for a man (especially a man of
color), and is therefore distasteful to many people. (See "girl".)
Butch: 1. Masculine or macho dress and
behavior, regardless of "sex" or "gender identity".
2. A sub-identity of lesbian or gay, based on masculine or macho
dress and behavior. (See "femme".)
Camp: To joke or playact exaggerated masculine
or feminine behaviors for others' entertainment. Especially
men exhibiting exaggerated feminine behaviors. Also "to
camp it up".
Come out: 1. To disclose one's own sexual
identity to another. [I
came out to my mother over Thanksgiving vacation.] 2. To discover
that one's own sexual identity is different than previously
assumed. [I came out to myself three months ago.] 3. To deal
with one's own and others' reactions to the discovery or revelation
of one's sexual identity. 4. ("- for") To disclose
another's sexual identity with their permission or at their
request. [I asked my mother to "come out" to my grandparents
for me.] (See "out".) 4. Sometimes applied to disclosure
of other information than one's sexual identity.
Cross Dresser (CD): One (regardless of
the motivation) who wears clothes, makeup, etc. which are considered
(by the culture) appropriate for the other sex but not one's
own.
Drag (In Drag): 1. Clothes, often unusual
or dramatic, especially
those considered appropriate to the other sex. 2. Can be applied
to any recognizable "look." ["(to a man in a
suite)": I see you are in corporate "drag" today.]
3. "In drag": Wearing clothes of the
opposite sex. [I went to the halloween party "in drag".]
Drag Queen: A M->F transvestite who
employs dramatic clothes, makeup, and mannerisms, often for
other people's appreciation.
Dyke: Reclaimed derogatory slang. Refers
to Lesbians, or to Lesbians and Bisexual women.
Electrolysis: Process of killing hair follicles,
especially of facial
and neck hair, usually with an electric needle.
F->M: Female to male. Used to specify
the direction of a sex or
gender role change.
Femme: 1. Feminine or effeminate dress
and behavior, regardless of "sex" or "gender
identity". 2. A sub-identity of lesbian or gay, based on
masculine or macho dress and behavior. (See "butch".)
Female: One who has a vagina.
Female Impersonator (FI): A male who, on
specific occasions, cross dresses and employs stereotypical
feminine dialog, voice, and mannerisms for the entertainment
of other people.
Feminine: The "gender role" assigned
to "females".
Fetishistic Transvestite: A Transvestite
who consistently eroticizes Cross Dressing. May also eroticize
fantasies of gender/sex change.
Gay (man/male) (community): One who has
significant sexual and
romantic attractions primarily to members of the same sex (as
oneself), or who identifies as a member of the gay community.
Sometimes refers only to gay males, sometimes only to gay males
and lesbians. Although some people use the term "gay (commmunity)"
to refer to all sexual minorities (or the "sexual minority
community"), Lesbians and Bisexuals often do not feel included
by it. Derogatory slang includes: queer, faggot, swish.
Gender (identity): A psychological "gender
role". "Masculine" or
"feminine".
Gender (identity) community: People who
identify as transvestite, transsexual, or transgendered, or
as members of the gender community. Members of the gender community
do not necessarily identify as members of the sexual minority
community. (See "transgender community".)
Gender dysphoria (GD): Unhappiness or discomfort
experienced by one whose sexual organs do not match one's gender
identity.
Gender neutral: Clothing, behaviors, thoughts,
feelings,
relationships, etc. which are considered appropriate for members
of both sexes.
Gender role: Arbitrary rules, assigned
by society, that define what clothing, behaviors, thoughts,
feelings, relationships, etc. are
considered appropriate and inappropriate for members of each
sex. Some clothing, behaviors, etc. are considered appropriate
for members of both sexes. Which things are considered masculine,
feminine, or neutral varies according to location, class, occasion,
and numerous other factors. (See "masculine", "feminine",
and "gender neutral".)
Genetic Boy (GB): Colloquial term for Genetic
Male. (See "boy".)
Genetic Male/Man (GM): One who was considered
male from birth, regardless of one's present sex or gender identity.
Genetic Female/Woman (GF/GM): One who was
born female, regardless of one's present sex or gender identity.
Genetic Girl (GG): Colloquial term for
Genetic Female. (See "girl".)
Girl: 1. A young female. 2. Colloquial
term for "feminine". Often
used to specify gender of clothes. ["My "girl"
clothes."] "Girl" has
often been used as a condescending term for a woman, and is
therefore distasteful to many people. (See "boy".)
Hermaphrodite: One who has both a penis
and a vagina.
Heterosexual (het): One who has significant
sexual and romantic
attractions primarily to members of the other sex (than oneself.)
Derogatory terms include: breeder. (See "straight".)
Heterosexism: The assumption that identifying
as heterosexual and having sexual and romantic attractions only
to members of the other sex (than oneself) is good and acceptable,
and that other sexual identities and attractions are bad and
unacceptable. The assumption that anyone is straight whose sexual
orientation is not known, usually coupled with a "blindness"
to the existence and concerns of LesBiGays.
Homophile (community): Obsolete term for
gay male (community.)
Homophobia: Originally, an irrational fear
of sexual attraction to the same sex. Developed into a term
for the oppression of Lesbians and Gay men, and later into a
term for all aspects of the oppression of Lesbians, Gay men,
and Bisexuals (sometimes does not include bisexuals.) This oppression
ranges from not including LesBiGays in one's circle of friends
and media reports on and representations of society, through
the cold shoulder, snide comments, verbal harrassment, assault,
rape, and murder based on the target person's (perceived) sexual
identity. (See also "Biphobia".)
Homophobe: One who is afraid of or oppresses
people because one (perceives them to) have sexual and romantic
attractions to members of the same sex.
Homosexual: Formal or clinical term for
"gay", usually meaning "gay male", sometimes
meaning "LesGay", and occasionally meaning "LesBiGay".
"Homosexual" and "homosexuality" are often
associated with the proposition that same gender attractions
are a mental disorder (homophilia), and are therefore distasteful
to some people.
Hormone therapy: Used to change secondary
sex characteristics, including breast size, weight distribution,
and facial hair growth. (See "electolysis".)
Identify/ied (as): To think of oneself
as having a particular sexual identity or gender identity. [I
"identify as" a bisexual. I am
bi-"identified".] To emphaise that an identity term
refers to one's
internal reality, as opposed to what others think or observe
of one, "self-identify" is sometimes used.
Identity: How one thinks of oneself. One's
internal self, as opposed to what others observe or think about
one. (See "Label".)
Label: How someone else sees or thinks
of one. (See "identity".)
Lesbian: A woman who has significant sexual
and romantic attractions to members of the same sex, or who
identifies as a member of the lesbian community. Bisexual women
often do not feel included by this term. Derogatory slang: dyke,
lesbo.
LesBiGay (community): Contraction of "lesbian,
bisexual, and gay." Colloquial term for the sexual minority
community or its members. Often spelled with capital "B"
and "G" to prevent misinterpretation as "lesbian
and gay." (See "sexual minority/identity community".)
LesGay: Contraction of "lesbian and
gay." Sometimes used to mean LesBiGay, but bisexual women
and men often do not feel included by this term.
M->F: Male to female. Used to specify
the direction of a sex or
gender role change.
Male: One who has a penis.
Male Impersonator: A female who, on specific
occasions, cross dresses and employs stereotypical masculine
dialog, voice, and mannerisms for the entertainment of other
people.
Masculine: The "gender role"
assigned to "males".
Monogendered: One who is comfortable in
only one gender role. (Do people actually use this, or is it
just a syntactic extension of "bigendered"?)
Monosexual: One who has significant sexual
and romantic attractions primarily to members of one sex. Straight,
Gay, Lesbian. Someone who is not Bisexual.
Neuter: 1. One who has neither a penis
nor a vagina. 2. Occasionally used to mean "androgenous".
Other sex/gender: The other sex or gender
than the reference person's own. [She has an other sex partner
(than her own sex).] [Are you currently in a relationship with
a member of the same sex (as yourself)?]
(to be) Out: To be open about one's sexual
identity with someone or in a situation. [I am "out"
to my mother.] [I am "out" at work.] (See "come
out".)
Out [someone]: 1. To disclose a second
person's sexual identity to a third person, especially without
the second person's permission. 2. To disclose one's own sexual
identity, sometimes without choosing to do so. [I outed myself
by leaving a political letter on my desk,which my boss saw when
he was looking for me.] (See "come out".)
Pre-operative transsexual (Pre-op TS):
One who is actively planning to switch physical sexes, mostly
to relieve "gender dysphoria".Probably, but not necessarily,
"cross dresses", takes "hormonetherapy",
and gets "electrolysis". (See "transsexual.")
Primary sex organs: Penis (male) or vagina
(female.) (See "female","male", "hermaphrodite",
"neuter".)
Queer: 1. Reclaimed derogatory slang for
the sexual minority community(eg. "Queer Nation".)
Not accepted by all the sexual minority community, especially
older members. 2. Sometimes used for an even wider spectrum
of marginalized or radicalized groups and individuals.
Same sex/gender: The same sex or gender
as the reference person's own. [He has a same sex partner (as
his own sex).] [Are you currently in a relationship with a member
of the same sex (as yourself)?]
Self-identify/identity as: See "identify
as" and "identity".
Sex: "Male" or "female",
depending on one's "primary sex organs".
Sex role: See "gender role".
Sexual identity: How one thinks of oneself,
in terms of being
significantly attracted to members of the same or the other
sex.
Based on one's internal experience, as opposed to which gender
one's actual sexual partners belong to. (See "sexual
orientation/preference".)
Sexual identity/minority community: The
community of people who have significant sexual and romantic
attractions to members of the same sex, or who identify as a
member of the sexual minority community. A formal term which
includes LesBiGays and sometimes members of the gender community.
Members of the "sexual minority community" usually
do not identify as members of the "gender community".
Sexual orientation/preference: How one
thinks of her/himself, in terms of being significantly attracted
to members the same or the other sex."Sexual orientation"
emphasizes that some people feel that one has no control or
influence over the development of one's sexual and romantic
attractions or one's sexual orientation. "Sexual preference"
emphasizes that some people feel that one does or should have
some control or influence over the development of one's sexual
and romantic attractions or sexual one's orientation.
Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS): A surgical
procedure which changes one's primary sexual organs from one
sex to another (penis to vagina or vagina to penis.)
SRS: Colloquial for "Sexual Reassignment
Surgery".
Straight: Colloquial for "heterosexual".
Because "straight" has
connotations of "unadulterated," "pure,"
and "honest," some members of the sexual identity
community object to the implication that one who is not straight
is "bent," "adulterated," "impure,"
or "dishonest." "Straight" has connotations
of "narrow," "straight-laced" or "conservative,"
and some heterosexual-identified people object find it distasteful.
Transgender community: Formal term for
"gender community".
Transgendered (TG): One who switches gender
roles, whether just once,or many times at will. Inclusive term
for transsexuals and transvestites.
Transsexual (TS): One who switches physical
sexes (usually just once, but there are exceptions.) Primary
sex change is accomplished by surgery. (See "SRS".)
"Hormone therapy", "electrolysis", additional
surgery, and other treatments can change secondary sex characteristics.
(See Pre-op TS.)
Transvestite (TV): One who mainly cross
dresses for pleasure in the appearance and sensation. The pleasure
may not be directly erotic. It may be empowering, rebellious,
or something else. May feel comfortable in a focused transgender
role while cross dressed. May occasionally experience gender
dysphoria.