Note: These definitions are a part of our Advanced Safe Zone track, Trans Identities & Lives. For a more basic understanding of LGBTQ issues and concerns, please refer to our Safe Zone Terms Glossary.

Biological Sex/Assigned Sex: The physiological and anatomical characteristics of maleness and femaleness with which a person is born or that develop with physical maturity. These markers including internal and external reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, and body shape. Infants are usually assigned to a sex category (usually male or female) at birth on the basis of such characteristics (primarily the appearance of the external genitals) (Bornstein, 1994, 1998). We therefore use assigned sex to refer to the sex designation that appears on birth certificates and other legal documents. See also intersex.

Cissexism: The assumption of legitimacy and preference for people whose gender identity and biological sex align along the binary. In other words, cissexism assumes that all people identify their gender identity and expression with the sex that they were assigned at birth. See heterosexism.

Endocrinology: The area of study in biology and medicine which directly relates to hormones and the glands which produce hormones.

Genderism: A belief system in which the male/female; man/woman binaries are preferred and held as the only legitimate identities. Moreover, assigned sex is determined to be inextricably linked to gender. This serves as the basis to exclude all who do not fit into this spectrum.

Harry Benjamin Standards of Care: In 1966, Harry Benjamin created the Standards of Care as ethical guidelines for the care and treatment of transsexuals. Benjamin’s guiding principles dictated the requirements necessary for a person to be considered transsexual and to qualify for medical transition, as well as the scope of therapies, treatments and surgeries that a transition would include. Although many therapists and medical providers still rely on the Standards of Care, the guidelines are often adhered to less rigidly than in the past.

Genderbashing: Physical and/or verbal violence directed towards an individual or group based on the target’s gender identity, gender expression, or the perception of these identities.

Gender Affirmation or Gender Confirmation Surgery: A social, medical, and/or surgical process that one undergoes for the purpose of having their body and expression be more consistent with their gender identity. It may be quite costly, and not everyone who desires surgery has equal access. Also known as Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) or Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS), although these phrases are more outdated now. As with any identity term, every individual will have a preference in word choice to describe this process for themselves.

Gender Conformity: An investment and participation in the social expectations of the constructions of gender identity and gender expression, particularly in alignment with assigned sex. This often means identifying and communicating one’s own gender within a binary and cisgendered way.

Gender Dysphoria: A psychiatric/medical diagnosis included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMV) to describe when a person assigned one gender based on their birth sex identifies as a different gender, or does not conform with the gender roles associated with their birth sex. This can manifest in many ways, including varying levels of body dysphoria, and general discomfort living as the assigned sex and/or gender.

Gender Recognition Act (GRA): An act of parliament in the United Kingdom passed in 2004 that gives trans identified individuals the right to legally change their gender on a birth certificate. This is done by presenting evidence of their identities to a Gender Recognition Panel, which may then issue a Gender Recognition Certificate. There is no requirement to have undergone gender confirmation surgery prior to this application.

Hijra: Culturally connected to South Asia and India in particular, Hijras are biological males who have woman-identified gender identity and expression. Historically, for more than 4,000 years, Hijras have lived in well-structured communities together and been led by a guru. Since the 1900’s, Hijras have created a social justice movement in an effort to be seen in a third gender category, as opposed to either male or female.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): The process of taking hormones to achieve the secondary sex characteristics of a particular sex. For example, taking testosterone in order to achieve more male-identified features is a type of HRT.

Hyperfemininity / Hypermasculinity: Refers to an exaggerated performance, behavior, or investment in gender expression in an extreme binary way. This can often be seen in gender exclusive spaces, in which masculinity or femininity are exclusive from one another (ex. sports clubs). Often these spaces can be exclusive, and emotionally or even physically dangerous for gender non-conforming and trans identified individuals.

Masculinization / Feminization: The development of primary and secondary sex characteristics in prepubescent adolescents. Also referred to as an aspect of some gender confirmation processes in which hormones and surgical procedures are used to reflect the aesthetics of an individual’s desired gender identity or expression.

Medical Model: A clinical view of gender variance, rooted in biological and psychological orientations, with an understanding that transsexuality and transgender identity are medical and mental health conditions, in need of diagnosis, treatment, and cure.

People of Transgender Experience: Used in some parts of the country for people who have transitioned and now identify as man or woman rather than transgender. Can also be used as an overarching term for anyone in the trans community.

Queer: An umbrella identity term taken by people who do not conform to heterosexual and/or gender binary norms; a reclaimed derogatory slur taken as a political term to unite people who are marginalized because of their non-conformity to dominant gender identities and/or heterosexuality.

Sex: It is the designation of the biological differences between females and males. This is the scientific term for what makes males and females different; remember, though, that not everyone fits into the two categories of male and female. There are a number of other different factors that determine sex, not just chromosomes.

Sexual Orientation: Determines the focus of our sexual/erotic drives, desires, and fantasies, and the inclination or capacity to develop intimate, emotional and sexual relationships with other people. Sexual orientation is usually quantified in terms of gender — both an individual’s own gender and the gender(s) of the people to whom that person is attracted and/or with whom they engage in intimate relationships and/or sexual behavior.

Trans: This is a gender identity term that was coined by trans activists in an effort to create language that the trans community could feel connected to and really own. Transgender was a term that many believe is related to the history of the word transgenderist. The activist who coined transgenderist was adamantly and controversially opposed to gender affirmation surgery and worked very hard to distinguish transgenderists from transsexuals. Within the last 10 years, trans or trans has begun to appear in literature as an umbrella term for the gender non- conforming community. Trans is so new as a term that its definition is still developing, but can be seen as a within-community umbrella term.

Transfeminine: A self-identification term for gender identity or gender expression in which a person who is born male does not feel connected to a sense of being a man. Rather, someone identifying as transfeminine would likely feel much closer to the culturally identified woman, female and feminine identified expressions, and yet, not identify as “woman”.

Transgenderist: A person who lives full time in the gender of his or her choice (different from the body type) without desiring gender reassignment surgery. Some transgenderists consider themselves to be “non-operative” transsexuals. Transgenderists may or may not choose to take hormones to permanently alter their appearance.

Transition: The process of moving from one gender to another. For example, “I transitioned from male to female in 1996”.

Trans Jurisprudence: The theory and method behind the legal reasoning of litigation regarding trans and gender non-conforming issues that are brought within this system. Historically, this meant a preoccupation with the biological and aesthetic functionality of trans folks, particularly in regard to (hetero)sexual functionality.

Trans man: A trans man is a person who identifies as a man and has been through a gender affirmation process of some type.

Transmasculine: A self-identification term for gender identity or gender expression in which a person who is born female does not feel connected to a sense of being a woman. Rather, someone identifying as transmasculine would likely feel much closer to the culturally identified man, male and masculine identified expressions and yet, not identify as “man”.

Transmisogyny: The confluence of the definitions of transphobia, and misogyny. It is the negative attitudes, expressed through cultural hate, individual and state violence, and discrimination directed toward trans women and trans and gender non-conforming people on the feminine end of the gender spectrum. Transmisogyny targets trans women, trans and gender non-conforming people who may not identify as women, but who present feminine characteristics and/or identify along the feminine end of the gender expression spectrum.

Transphobia: The irrational fear of people who identify, or are perceived to be, trans and/or gender non-conforming.

Trans woman: A trans woman is a person who identifies as a woman and has been through a gender affirmation process of some type.