Egale Explains: FAQ About Gender Identity 

What is the difference between man and male, woman and female?

Man and woman are words for gender identity, which is a person’s internal and individual experience of gender; what someone’s gender feels like. Male and female are words for assigned sex at birth, which is when someone (usually a medical professional) assigns to you based on looking at your external anatomy.

Learn more about the Components of Human Identity.

So, there’s only two genders?

No – there are more than two genders. While many people use the terms man and woman to describe their gender identity, there are many other gender identities, including nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, and more. Gender is a complex and personal concept that varies over time, culture, and context. It’s important to respect everyone’s gender identity.

Learn more 2SLGBTQI Terms and Concepts.

Are gender identity and gender expression the same thing?

Gender identity and gender expression are related, but they are not the same. Gender identity is a person’s internal sense of their own gender. Gender expression is how a person presents and expresses their gender. This can include their clothing, hairstyle, behaviour, and other outward characteristics.

While gender identity and gender expression are often linked, they do not always correspond. A person’s gender identity may not always be reflected in their gender expression. For example, a woman may choose to express their gender in a masculine way. Similarly, a man may choose to express their gender in a feminine way. And some peoples’ gender expressions can be between and/or beyond masculine, feminine, and androgynous. It is important to respect people’s gender identity and gender expression, even if it does not align with your own understanding of gender and societal norms.

Why do I need to tell people what my pronouns are, isn’t it obvious?

It’s good practice to not assume what pronouns people use because we simply don’t always know. What might be obvious to you, might not be obvious to someone else.

Pronouns can be a personal choice to reflect someone’s gender identity, and you can’t know just by observing somebody’s gender expression (the different ways gender is presented e.g., masculine or feminine).

By not assuming and not relying on “obviousness”, this practice also serves to counter inaccurate and/or harmful assumptions that carry the weight of stereotypes.

I’m not trans, why do I need pronouns?

Everybody uses pronouns! Pronouns are words used to refer to someone when a name is not used.

Some examples are “he”, “she”, and “they”.

Learn more with this Pronoun Usage Guide.

Can’t you always tell when someone is trans?

No! It’s not uncommon for some trans people to experience being assumed to be cisgender. And vice versa, it’s also not uncommon for some cisgender people to experience being assumed to be trans.

The desire to pass (be assumed as cisgender) varies amongst trans people. Read more.

Is the word cisgender a slur?

No. Cisgender means that a person’s gender identity corresponds with what is socially expected based on their sex assigned at birth. It is simply a fact!

If you feel that the word cisgender is a slur or makes you uncomfortable, it might also indicate that you were taught that transgender is a slur /inherently a negative thing to call someone.

Transphobia is only an issue for trans people, right?

Sadly no, because so much of transphobia relies on assumptions and not truth, transphobia can affect anyone who is simply perceived as trans, regardless
of whether they’re trans or not. Moreover, since much of basis of transphobia is rooted in colonial, White supremacist, and patriarchal ideals, the ripples of transphobia also means that it negatively affects other people. For an example, see Egale Explains: “Transvestigation” in Sport and How it Feeds Misogyny.

Our 2024 national study of the employment landscape that Two Spirit, trans, and nonbinary people in Canada navigate found:

• 74% of survey participants reported hiding or minimizing aspects of their
  identity half, most, or all of the time when job seeking.
• 72% of survey participants had experienced workplace discrimination.

Our 2021 national study of secondary schools found:

• 79% of trans survey participants who had been the victims of physical harassment reported that teachers and staff were ineffective in addressing transphobic harassment.
• 64% of survey participants reported hearing homophobic comments daily
  or weekly at school.