Resource Library

Agender

A person without gender, who does not identify with any gender.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR; PFLAG

Bigender

A person whose gender identity is a combination of or alternation between two genders.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR

Cisgender

(cis, ciswoman, cisman): “Cis” is the Latin Term for “same as.” A cis person is someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth. When one’s gender identity matches the sex assigned to them at birth.

SOURCE | GLSEN, adrienne maree brown

Femme-of-center

Someone whose gender is primarily feminine and their other gender characteristics are centred around this.

SOURCE | Young Women’s Advisory Council, Girls for Gender Equity

Genderfluid

Describes a person who does not consistently identify with one fixed gender, and who may move between gender identities.

SOURCE | PFLAG

Genderqueer

A term which refers to individuals or groups who “queer” or problematize the hegemonic notions of sex, gender and desire in a given society. Genderqueer people possess identities which fall outside of the widely accepted sexual binary (i.e. “men” and “women”).

SOURCE | The Anti-Violence Project

Gender Nonconforming

Gender that does not adhere to gender expectations within the binary model.

SOURCE | The Anti-Violence Project

Gender Variant

Cultural expressions of multiple genders (i.e., more than two) and the opportunity for individuals to change gender roles and identities over the course of their lifetimes.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR

Intersex

Refers to individuals born with ambiguous genitalia or bodies that appear neither typically male nor female, often arising from chromosomal anomalies or ambiguous genitalia. Medical professionals often assign a gender to the individual and proceed to perform surgeries to ‘align’ their physical appearance with typical male or female sex characteristics beginning in infancy and often continuing into adolescence, before a child is able to give informed consent.

SOURCE | PFLAG

Man

A gender identity that exists within the gender binary.

Man-identifying

A person who identifies with the gender characteristics often associated with men.

Masculine-of-center

Someone whose gender is primarily masculine and their other gender characteristics are centred around this.

SOURCE | Young Women’s Advisory Council, Girls for Gender Equity

Nonbinary

Refers to individuals who identify as neither man or woman, both man and woman, or a combination of man or woman. It is an identity term which some use exclusively, while others may use it interchangeably with terms like genderqueer, gender creative, gender nonconforming, gender diverse, or gender expansive.

SOURCE | PFLAG

Questioning

An individual who is unsure of and/or exploring their gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR

Third gender

A person who does not identify with the traditional genders of “man” or “woman,” but identifies with another gender. This is often a gender category available in societies that recognize three or more genders.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR

Transgender

A term used broadly that refers primarily to individuals who identify differently from the sex assigned at birth or a term used by people for whom the sex they were assigned at birth is an incomplete or incorrect description of themselves. It is often used as an umbrella term to include many other identities including but not limited to genderqueer or gender nonconfirming. People must self-identify as transgender (or trans) in order for the term to be appropriately used to describe them.

SOURCE | Anti-Violence Project, adrienne maree brown

Transman

A man who was assigned female at birth. Signifies that he is a man while still affirming his transgender history.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR

Transwoman

A woman who was assigned male at birth. Signifies that she is a woman while still affirming her transgender history.

SOURCE | LGBT Resource Center, UCR

Transfeminine

Transfeminine is a term used to describe transgender people who were assigned male at birth, but identify with femininity to a greater extent than with masculinity. This includes trans women, but transfeminine can also describe someone with a non-binary gender who views themselves as significantly feminine, such as demigirls. Transfeminine can also be used as a gender identity in its own right. Although they have feminine gender identities, transfeminine people may prefer not to conform to stereotypical feminine gender expression or gender roles.

SOURCE | The Anti-Violence Project

Transmasculine

Transmasculine is a term used to describe transgender people who were assigned female at birth, but identify with masculinity to a greater extent than with femininity. This includes trans men, but transmasculine can also describe someone with a non-binary gender who views themselves as significantly masculine, such as demiguys. Transmasculine can also be used as a gender identity in its own right. Although they have masculine gender identities, transmasculine people may prefer not to conform to stereotypical masculine gender expression or gender roles.

SOURCE | The Anti-Violence Project

Two-Spirit

An umbrella term for indigenous and first-nations queer and transgender people who do not feel their experiences are accurately articulated by modern eurocentric queer labels. These terms are culturally specific and should not be used by anyone outside of the cultures for whom it was intended.

SOURCE | Young Women’s Advisory Council, Girls for Gender Equity

Woman

A gender identity that exists within the gender binary.

Woman-identifying

A person who identifies with the gender characteristics often associated with women.