For many gender diverse people, the concept of binary gender – having to choose to express yourself as male or female – is constraining. Some people would prefer to have the freedom to change from one gender to another, or not have a gender identity at all. Others just want to be able to openly defy or challenge more normalised concepts of gender.

Gender identity is part of our self-perception, how we see ourselves and how others see us. This perception is the result of psychological and socio-cultural aspects. It is our internal experience and naming of our gender. It can correspond to or differ from the sex we were assigned at birth. Understanding of our gender comes to most of us early in life. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “By age four, most children have a stable sense of their gender identity.” This core aspect of one’s identity comes from within each of us. Gender identity is an inherent aspect of a person’s make-up. Individuals do not choose their gender, nor can they be made to change it. In qualitative studies with adults, Ross (2014), Roen (2002), and Rood et al. (2016) found that participants experienced differences between expressing their gender in existing social relationships and around new people; they felt a need to express themselves in line with gender norms in public in order to be perceived as their gender, while they felt more comfortable expressing themselves more fluidly around family, friends, and in private. 

However, the words someone uses to communicate their gender identity may change over time; naming one’s gender can be a complex and evolving matter. Because we are provided with limited language for gender, it may take a person quite some time to discover, or create, the language that best communicates their internal experience. Likewise, as language evolves, a person’s name for their gender may also evolve. This does not mean their gender has changed, but rather that the words for it are shifting. 

The two gender identities most people are familiar with are boy and girl (or man and woman), and often people think that these are the only two gender identities. This idea that there are only two genders–and that each individual must be either one or the other–is called the “Gender binary.” However, throughout human history we know that many societies have seen, and continue to see, gender as a spectrum, and not limited to just two possibilities. In addition to these two identities, other identities are now commonplace. 

Youth and young adults today no longer feel bound by the gender binary, instead establishing a growing vocabulary for gender. More than just a series of new words, however, this shift in language represents a far more nuanced understanding of the experience of gender itself. Terms that communicate the broad range of experiences of non-binary people are particularly growing in number. 

Genderqueer, a term that is used both as an identity and as an umbrella term for non-binary identities, is one example of a term for those who do not identify as exclusively masculine or feminine. This evolution of language is exciting, but can also be confusing as new terms are created regularly, and since what a term means can vary from person to person.

However by disclosing and expressing their gender identity, transgender youth also risk being disaffirmed or misgendered, and exposed to gender-based social oppression, stigma, and victimization. It might be a good message to youth, that being transgender does not necessarily imply a desire or need to change your biological sex, or maybe you just don’t accept the imposed norms of gender expression, and so you identify as neither or both sexes. . For example, a cross-dresser may choose to wear clothes normally associated with the other gender, which is what the term ‘reverse dressing’ means. For some this may be an expression of identity, for others it may be for practicality or aesthetic reasons. However, cross-dresser does not necessarily mean trans, it is your own choice.

The video features an authority on the complexities of gender identity, expression, and societal constructs. The discourse commences by extending an invitation to contemplate individual prejudices and societal factors that impact gender, underscoring the criticality of maintaining authentic comprehension and education in the area. The speaker examines the impact of implicit prejudices on our attitudes and behaviours towards individuals who identify as gender-diverse, with a particular focus on familial and educational environments.Subsequent discourse explores the “genderbread person” framework to elucidate the differentiations among gender identity, expression, biological sex, and attractions. This enlightens audiences who may be less well-informed regarding the intricacies associated with gender matters. The narrative emphasises that gender is predominantly a product of social construction, with socialisation processes and cultural conventions dictating the expected roles and behaviours of various genders.

Additionally, the video emphasises the significance of acknowledging and comprehending these societal constructs to promote support and inclusiveness for individuals who identify as gender-diverse. Gender diversity necessitates a continuous discourse and receptiveness to knowledge, emphasising the ever-evolving nature of gender as a scholarly domain and societal consciousness. The expert advises viewers to apply this understanding constructively towards gender-diverse individuals, with a specific focus on young people, by recognising and honouring their unique identities and experiences.