Sourc: Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels
Can gender identity change over time?
Yes, gender identity can change over time. Although in most cases, gender identity remains unchanged after birth, there are some exceptions where the individual gets to discover their gender when growing up.
The ability for gender identity to change in a person is known as gender fluidity. For most LGBTQIA persons, gender identity is considered a phase rather than a definite term to describe the person.
Are gender identity and pronouns the same?
No, both terms are attempting to explain different things. Gender identity is one’s personal sense of gender and sex, while pronouns are words used to acknowledge someone’s gender. Although both may be somewhat correlated, one is often used to acknowledge the presence of the other.
Understanding the right gender identity of a person is key to knowing the right pronoun to use for them. While that’s the case most people with gender identities that are different from their sex or what society assumes to be their gender are often offended when people address them with the wrong pronoun.
How can gender identity be reinforced?
Gender identity can be reinforced through a variety of ways – which can be grouped into three; family, society, and media. Of the three, gender reinforcement through the family is the first and most important foundation that eventually gets to build the gender identity of the individual. It involves the family using gender scripts like giving boy clothes and toys to a boy child and doing the equivalent for the girl child.
Society and media forms of gender reinforcement happen when a person becomes exposed to society. In a few cases, it may lead to a change in their gender identity, but most of the time, people retain the gender identity reinforced by their immediate parents and family.
How do I find out my gender identity?
Finding out your gender identity is something that’s expected to happen naturally, provided you’ve got the proper gender identity reinforcement as a kid. However, there are few cases where someone may be confused about their gender identity, causing them stress and anxiety.
While that’s the case, you can follow a couple of steps to discover your gender identity, if you’re a bit confused.
- Know your assigned sex
- Understand gender identity(s)
- Understand gender expression
- Understand the difference between gender and sexuality
- Question yourself about your gender
- Experiment with different gender identities
- Find out the gender you’re more comfortable with and expressing
Is gender identity biologically determined?
In most cases, yes, gender identity is biologically determined. However, there have been some peculiar cases where a person’s biological features don’t correspond with their gender identity. The persons most times will undergo gender transition so that their sex and gender align with their gender identity.
What does gender identity mean?
Gender identity is one’s innate feeling of their gender, coupled with how they express it. For most people it aligns with their sex at birth, for others, they need to undergo gender transition to get that alignment.
Is gender identity also gender role?
No, gender identity and gender role are two different concepts. The former means one’s individual sense of gender, while the latter means how society expects you to behave based on your sex.
