Understanding gender

The difference between sex and gender

While many people use the words sex and gender interchangeably, they mean different things. Often people’s sex and gender match up; this experience is referred to as cisgender Refers to people who are non-trans, i.e. whose gender matches their assigned sex at birth. . However, many people identify as a gender that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. To describe this experience, people may use words such as transgender, non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care. or other terms.

Sex refers to biological traits. These include chromosomes, hormones and reproductive and sexual anatomy (body parts such as a penis An erogenous and erectile organ located between the legs that consists of spongy tissue that can fill up with blood and may become firmer with sexual arousal. It is also a means for urination. A person may be born with a penis or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "erogenous tissue (penis)" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and "penis" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use. or vagina An internal organ located between the legs. A person may be born with a vagina or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "internal genitals (vagina)" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), and "vagina" or "vagina with vaginoplasty" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use. ). Sex is a label usually assigned to a person when they are born based on their body characteristics. People are usually assigned male or female at birth and this marker goes on legal documents such as birth certificates.

Gender is shaped by social factors. Gender roles, expressions and identities vary across cultures. Gender is about how people feel on the inside. A person may feel like a male or a female, or they might feel like neither or both.

There are many ways to describe what gender is. Different people and places around the world have different expectations and ideas about gender. The ways people think about gender change over time and are different across cultures.

Gender diversity

Gender diversity refers to the vast array of ways that people experience their gender. While gender is often thought to be binary (having only two options: man and woman) there are actually many more genders. People may use cisgender, non-binary, gender fluid An experience of gender that is not fixed, and may continue to shift or fluctuate over time. The term is used in reference to both gender and gender expression. , agender Refers to people with no or limited personal connection to gender, or who identify as existing without gender or other terms to describe their gender.

Indigenous gender diversity

For many Indigenous nations, there is a history of gender and sexual orientation Refers to terms such as lesbian, gay, straight, and queer, which are based on patterns of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to groups of people. Sexual orientation terms are commonly (but not always) defined by the gender(s) of the people that the individual is attracted to. Sexual orientation also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions; for example pansexual, bisexual, LGB, heterosexual. existing in ways that differ from colonial norms seen today. Terms like Indigiqueer Indigiqueer is a term coined by TJ Cuthand and popularized by Joshua Whitehead to refer to people in the Indigenous queer community. Indigiqueer includes people who do not hold Two-Spirit identities, although Two-Spirit identities are part of the Indigiqueer community. and Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) reflect some of this diversity today.

What does it mean to be Two-Spirit?

Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) is a current-day term used by some Indigenous people. It reflects complex and diverse Indigenous understandings of gender roles, spirituality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Individual terms and roles for Two-Spirit people, if they existed historically and are still within the awareness of nation members, are specific to each Nation. 

Due to the  cultural, spiritual, and historical context, the term Two-Spirit, as self-identification, is to be used only by Indigenous people. Not all Indigenous people who hold diverse sexual and gender identities consider themselves Two-Spirit; many identify themselves as LGBTQIA+ or use terms such as Indigiqueer Indigiqueer is a term coined by TJ Cuthand and popularized by Joshua Whitehead to refer to people in the Indigenous queer community. Indigiqueer includes people who do not hold Two-Spirit identities, although Two-Spirit identities are part of the Indigiqueer community. .

Take the Trans Care BC Indigenous Gender Diversity Course to learn more.
 

Resources for Indigenous people

We've assembled a number of resources for Indigenous, trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary people on our website. 

Gender diversity throughout history

Trans, Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) and non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care. people have existed throughout history and across cultures. Across many cultures, gender diverse Refers to gender roles and/or gender expression that do not match social and cultural expectations. people have not only existed but have also held important roles. 

You may want to explore the history of gender diversity in your culture. This Map of Gender Diverse Cultures may be helpful in starting that exploration.

Gender & gender expression

Gender (sometimes referred to as gender identity A person's deeply held, internal sense of themself as male, female, a blend of both or neither. (Source: GenderSpectrum.org) ) and gender expression How a person outwardly communicates their gender, including name and pronoun choice, style of dress, and voice modulation. (Source: QMUNITY) are terms that can be confused with one another. While they are often similar, they do not always match. A person may express gender in a way that differs from how they feel on the inside.

Gender is how a person feels on the inside about who they are as a female, male, both, in between or neither. Only you can determine your gender.

Gender expression is how one outwardly shows gender. This includes their name and pronoun choice, style of dress, voice or hairstyle. Gender expression may be referred to as masculine, feminine, androgynous or neutral. A person who is gender fluid An experience of gender that is not fixed, and may continue to shift or fluctuate over time. The term is used in reference to both gender and gender expression. may change how they express themselves depending on the situation they are in or how they feel (for example, at a business meeting, home alone, or out with friends).

Explore gender diversity, identity and expression using this diagram and worksheet. 

What does transgender mean?

We use the word transgender or trans as an umbrella term. It describes a wide range of people whose gender or gender expression differs from their assigned sex or the societal and cultural expectations of their assigned sex. We use this umbrella term to be as inclusive as possible to all people who are trans and gender diverse Refers to gender roles and/or gender expression that do not match social and cultural expectations. .

The term trans includes, but is not limited to, people who are:

• Agender Refers to people with no or limited personal connection to gender, or who identify as existing without gender
• Bigender Refers to someone who has two genders.
• Female-to-male (FTM)
• Gender creative A term that refers to children who identify and express their gender in ways that differ from societal and cultural expectations. Some gender creative children grow up to be trans and some do not.
• Gender fluid
• Genderqueer A person who does not conform to society’s expectations for their gender roles or gender expression.
• Male-to-female (MTF)
• Non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care.
• Pangender Refers to an experience of gender that includes all genders. (Source: QMUNITY)
• Trans (transgender)
• Trans man A man who is trans. Most trans men were assigned female at birth and have since socially and/or medically transitioned to male.
• Trans woman A woman who is trans. Most trans women were assigned male at birth and have since socially and/or medically transitioned to female.
• Transfeminine Refers to trans people who were assigned male at birth and whose gender expression leans towards the feminine.
• Transmasculine Refers to trans people who were assigned female at birth and whose gender expression leans towards the masculine.
• Transsexual An older term referring to a wide range of people whose gender differs from their sex assigned at birth. Most trans people today do not use the term transsexual to refer to themselves. This is due to the term being associated with a history of pathologizing and medicalising trans people. However, some trans people still identify with the term transsexual, as it can also be positively associated with the history of trans activism from the 1960's onward. As with any term, it is best not to use the term transsexual to describe a person unless they have identified to you that this is a term they would like you to use.

This list does not capture everyone who identifies as trans. We apologize if you identify as trans and do not see yourself reflected above. At Trans Care BC, we are committed to using inclusive language and invite you to contact us with your suggestions for how we can make our language and resources as inclusive as possible.

What is sexual orientation?

Many people mistakenly believe that being trans is a sexual orientation Refers to terms such as lesbian, gay, straight, and queer, which are based on patterns of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to groups of people. Sexual orientation terms are commonly (but not always) defined by the gender(s) of the people that the individual is attracted to. Sexual orientation also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions; for example pansexual, bisexual, LGB, heterosexual. . Sexual orientation is quite different from gender.

Sexual orientation includes patterns of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction. Often, gender is a factor in people's sexual orientation, but this isn't the case for all people. Part of sexual orientation includes:

• A person’s sense of identity based who they are attracted to 
• Their behaviours 
• Being part of a community of others who share those attractions

Everyone has a gender and a sexual orientation. Like anybody, trans people are asexual Someone who does not experience sexual desire for people of any gender. Some asexual people desire romantic relationships, while others do not. Asexuality can be considered a spectrum, with some asexual people experiencing desire for varying types of intimacy. This desire can fluctuate over time. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy, which is the deliberate refraining from sexual activity. Asexual people experience high levels of invisibility and trivialization. (Source: QMUNITY) , straight Someone who is primarily attracted to people of the "opposite" gender within a binary understanding of gender. , heterosexual, bisexual Someone who is attracted to and may form relationships with people of at least two genders. Some bi people define the "bi" in bisexuality as referring to two types of attraction: to their own gender and to other genders. , lesbian, pansexual Someone who is attracted to and may form relationships with people of any or all genders. Pansexuality differs from bisexuality in that gender is not a factor in attraction (whereas for bisexual people gender is a factor). , queer A reclaimed term for non-heterosexual or non-cisgender people. "Queer" provides convenient shorthand for "LGBT2Q+", and is also used by some people to describe their personal identities. , gay Someone who is primarily attracted to those of the same gender. The term is often but not exclusively used to refer to men. or something else.

Gender journeys

As we grow up and learn more about ourselves, it is common to examine gender. People may come to a new understanding about their gender at different points in their lives. Every person’s gender journey is different. Exploring gender helps people learn more about themselves. Gender journeys take many forms. This is a very individual process and may evolve over time.

Many people are raised as boys and girls and keep the gender assigned to them at birth throughout their lives (cisgender Refers to people who are non-trans, i.e. whose gender matches their assigned sex at birth. ). Other people realize at some point that they are not cisgender. 

Some people figure out their gender as young children. Others discover their genders as adults. The ways people understand or describe their genders can shift throughout their lives.

If you are on a gender journey or want to support somebody who is, read our Questioning and Coming Out sections to learn more.