My personal definitions of the terms (some easy, some difficult to put down in a few words) Note that where there are options, these options don't have to be exclusive of each other.
Sex The biological sex as defined by one's genetic makeup and natural reproductive organs. Gender A role related to social interaction and environments. Can be set or fluent, depending on the person's self-identification and/or social environment. May be, but must not be related to the person's sex. Transgender a) A state in which a person does not feel they belong to the gender assigned to them b) a recently preferred term for transsexual as it is considered to encompass a far wider range of self-identification Transexual A state in which a person considers their sex to not fit their gender Trans* A common term for all forms of transitioning between genders and/or sexes Male a) having the xy chromosome b) a gender identity connected to certain characteristics most commonly defined by one's social environment Female a) having the xx chromosome b) a gender identity connected to certain characteristics most commonly defined by one's social environment Man/boy a male person (see 'male' above) Woman/girl a female person (see 'female' above) Cisgender a state in which one feels their gender and natural sex are congruent Gay being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of the same sex and/or gender Lesbian being of the female gender and/or sex and being physically and/or romantically attracted to other person of the female sex and/or gender Straight being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of the other gender and/or sex in a binary gender system Bisexual being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of either gender and/or sex in a binary gender system Pansexual being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of all genders and/or sexes in non-binary gender systems Polysexual being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of many but not necessarily all genders and/or sexes in non-binary gender systems Asexual not being sexually attracted to others. Romantic attraction is however possible and sexuality still exists. Ally Someone who supports the rights and situations of trans persons while not being trans themselves. (I ... honestly dislike this term. It sounds too much like part of a war situation to me. I prefer a simple 'friend'.) Stealth hiding one's trans* state from other people Out informing other people about one's trans* state Pride a movement that celebrates gender diversity and encourages people to never be ashamed nor let others treat them like they should be ashamed of their gender and/or sexuality.
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That took me a while, and I'm still not perfectly happy...
Date: 2009-05-04 03:35 pm (UTC)Sex The biological sex as defined by one's genetic makeup and natural reproductive organs.
Gender A role related to social interaction and environments. Can be set or fluent, depending on the person's self-identification and/or social environment. May be, but must not be related to the person's sex.
Transgender a) A state in which a person does not feel they belong to the gender assigned to them
b) a recently preferred term for transsexual as it is considered to encompass a far wider range of self-identification
Transexual A state in which a person considers their sex to not fit their gender
Trans* A common term for all forms of transitioning between genders and/or sexes
Male a) having the xy chromosome
b) a gender identity connected to certain characteristics most commonly defined by one's social environment
Female a) having the xx chromosome
b) a gender identity connected to certain characteristics most commonly defined by one's social environment
Man/boy a male person (see 'male' above)
Woman/girl a female person (see 'female' above)
Cisgender a state in which one feels their gender and natural sex are congruent
Gay being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of the same sex and/or gender
Lesbian being of the female gender and/or sex and being physically and/or romantically attracted to other person of the female sex and/or gender
Straight being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of the other gender and/or sex in a binary gender system
Bisexual being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of either gender and/or sex in a binary gender system
Pansexual being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of all genders and/or sexes in non-binary gender systems
Polysexual being physically and/or romantically attracted to persons of many but not necessarily all genders and/or sexes in non-binary gender systems
Asexual not being sexually attracted to others. Romantic attraction is however possible and sexuality still exists.
Ally Someone who supports the rights and situations of trans persons while not being trans themselves.
(I ... honestly dislike this term. It sounds too much like part of a war situation to me. I prefer a simple 'friend'.)
Stealth hiding one's trans* state from other people
Out informing other people about one's trans* state
Pride a movement that celebrates gender diversity and encourages people to never be ashamed nor let others treat them like they should be ashamed of their gender and/or sexuality.