To better understand transgender and gender diverse people, PHS students and staff should take the time to learn more about terminology. Words and labels can help individuals understand themselves and others and can have a huge impact in the building of an accepting community and environment. That being said, no one should feel required or forced to claim any label they don’t want for themselves.

Gender Expression or Self Expression: The way an individual presents themselves. This can be through hair, clothing, makeup, mannerism, accessories, etc.. Gender expression is interpreted by our preexisting understanding of gender norms and does not necessarily indicate someone’s gender.

Gender: A spectrum of identities that include but go beyond “men” and “women.” Gender is a social construct and is evolved from strict gender norms, though it’s no longer confined to them. It’s an internal understanding of self and it can’t always be dictated by sex.

Gender Binary: Refers to the classification of gender as men and women. Many people identify within the gender binary but many do not.

Nonbinary: A gender identity that exists outside of the gender binary. This is both an individual identity and an umbrella term that encompasses any identity outside the binary.

Sex: A classification based on characteristics like genitilia, chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy. Usually identified at birth.

Female: A label typically assigned to babies who are born with a vagina, uterus, and XX chromosomes.

Male: A label typically assigned to babies who are born with a penis and XY chromosomes.

Intersex: A label typically assigned to babies who are born with a combination of genitilia and chromosomes that don’t strictly fit into Male and Female categories.

AGAB: Assigned Gender at Birth refers to the gender a doctor or parent labelled a baby when they were born. This can be Female, Male, or Intersex.

AFAB: Assigned Female at Birth refers to people who were assigned “female” at birth. They may or may not still identify with a feminine label.

AMAB: Assigned Male at Birth refers to people who were assigned “male” at birth. They may or may not still identify with a masculine label.

AIAB: Assigned Intersex at Birth refers to people who were assigned “indeterminate” or “intersex” at birth. An intersex person may or may not identify with a binary gender, and they may or may not identify as transgender.

Transgender: an adjective used to describe people who’s gender is not their AGAB.

Cisgender: an adjective used to describe people who’s gender is their AGAB.

This is NOT a comprehensive lists and simplifies ideas that cannot be simplified. Gender theory is complicated, words are constantly changing, and it can be very overwhelming and confusing! But putting in the effort to know more is a good start.