DEFINITIONS

 

Gender Dysphoria (n.):

Gender dysphoria is discomfort with physical attributes or other characteristics that either you or society associates with the gender you were assigned at birth because they denote one’s assigned gender rather than your gender identity. These characteristics include but are not limited to: sex characteristics, gendered language, and clothing/other forms of gender expression. It is generally accepted that having dysphoria is necessary to be trans.

 

Gender Identity (n.):

Gender identity is how one personally understands their gender. Your gender identity can but doesn’t have to match with your gender assigned at birth. If someone asked you what you would like your gender marker on your driver’s license to be, your answer would be your gender identity. Gender identity is who you are, it has nothing to do with what you wear, what you like, or how you behave. 

 

Gender Expression (n.):

Gender Expression is how one chooses to express themselves through apparel and behavior. Gender expression does not have to align with gender identity. For example, a typical tomboy would express in a more masculine way, but would still identify as a girl regardless of presentation. Your gender identity may or may not align with your gender expression.

 

Transgender (or trans) (adj.):

Transgender is a term that refers to people whose gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth. Transgender is an umbrella term that covers both binary and non-binary trans people. It’s also important to mention that other words such as transgenderism, transgendered, or transgenders may be grammatically correct but are generally disrespectful. 

 

Cisgender (or cis) (adj.):

Cisgender is the label for anyone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth. 

 

Non-binary (adj.): 

Non-binary is a term refering to people whose gender identity does not fit into the categoriy of man or woman but instead fits somewhere in between, outside, or is a combination of binary genders. Non-binary is an umbrella term covering the many different non-binary genders.

 

Binary (adj. or n.): 

Binary is the term for the two societal norms of gender, men and women. The word “binary” can also be used to describe transgender people. For example, a binary trans person would identify as either a man or a woman rather than identifying as non-binary. 

 

Deadname or Birth name (n.):

A deadname or birth name is the name somebody was assigned as birth. Many trans people choose to change their name as a part of their transition, so some people refer to their old name that they were assigned as their “deadname,” most of the time in order to distance themselves from the name. 

 

Chest Binder (n.): 

A chest binder (also simply called a binder) is an undergarment worn by masculine presenting trans people to flatten and minimize the appearance of their chest in order to help alleviate dysphoria.