What is Gender Identity

Gender identity is the internal, deeply held sense of one's gender. It represents how one feels from the inside. Each individual's experience of their gender identity is unique and personal. It is not based only on how one looks. Most individuals have a gender identity of woman or man ( girl or boy). Some individuals may fit something other than these two choices.

Types

Cisgender

Individuals whose gender identity and the sex assigned at birth are in line with each other. For example- An individual born biologically as a male expresses their gender as male.

Transgender

An umbrella term inclusive of all those people who experience and identify with a different gender than the sex assigned at birth. This term includes trans men (men who were assigned female at birth), trans women (women who were assigned male at birth), and all those who identify as a gender other than man or woman.

Trans

A term that includes various gender identities under the transgender umbrella.

Non-Binary

An umbrella term for any individual who does not align with the gender binary of male and female. They may identify as non-binary or a specific type of non-binary such as agender, bigender, gender fluid, etc.

Agender

Individuals who do not identify with any particular gender or intentionally don't follow the societal expectations of gender.

Genderfluid

Individuals who do not confine themselves to one gender. Instead, they may shift between presenting themselves as feminine, masculine, or neither.

Signs

Mind

MIND

A strong desire to not have the primary sexual characteristics of their birth-assigned gender
To be treated as the gender they identify with
To have the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of the preferred gender
Insisting that they identify with a gender different from the one assigned at birth

Body

BODY

Suicide or self-harming tendencies

Action

ACTION

Prefers cross-sex roles
Rejection of toys, games, and objects that are typically linked with birth-assigned gender
Wearing clothes that are generally associated with their preferred gender
Neglecting personal hygiene
Isolating self from others
Substance use
Interpersonal conflicts/clashes

Heart

HEART

Depression
Anxiety
Low self-esteem

Causes

The exact reasons for gender dysphoria are not fully identified, but numerous factors like genetics, hormonal effect, and environment may play a role.

Myths and Facts

How to Help Self?

Seeking professional help: Certain experiences can make one vulnerable to developing psychological difficulties such as:

Feeling ‘different from others around.
Bullied about one’s gender identity, whether verbal, physical, or online.
Discrimination is shown by being treated differently or excluded.
Feeling scared about opening up about one’s gender to others.
Having to hide one’s identity due to the fear of judgment.
Having to act or be someone one is not.
Feeling pressurized to label one’s gender when they are unsure.
Others use the wrong pronouns.
Pressure to conform to the sex they are assigned at birth.
Worrying or feeling unsupported that their new gender will not be accepted or understood by loved ones.
Deadnaming (when people continue to use or call the individual by the old name despite having a new one).

Journaling: If you are not ready to speak about your gender identity or sexual orientation or are worried about others’ reactions, try to journal your feelings. Journaling is recording your emotions, thoughts, or ideas in a diary. It can be an outlet for your worries, allowing you to declutter your mind. There is no right or wrong way to journal. But you can keep a few points in mind while doing it:

List your feelings, what you want, what you think, and your unmet expectations.
Use it to let out the unwanted thoughts that constantly bother you.
You can set a time window to write for a few minutes daily.
When you have no one to share your innermost feelings with, you can always share them in your journal.

Tip: Decorate your journal with photos, quotes, and stickers to make it interesting and fun.

A drop of inspiration: There are several people, such as people you know, celebrities, and online influencers, who are open about their experiences. It can be empowering to see them going through a similar journey, sharing their struggles, and breaking stereotypes. Follow them and keep these like-minded people in your feed. Doing so can make you feel comforted and accepted.

Clear the social media chaos: If things online are making you feel upset or pressured, remember you are the boss of your social media account. You can delete hurtful comments, turn off the comment section, and restrict certain followers by unfollowing them. Report any abusive posts and block those profiles. They may get banned altogether. Sometimes taking breaks from social media can also be therapeutic!

How to Help Others?

When a loved one is going through a transition, one of the best things you can do is to support them. Here are some ways:

Listen: Simply listening can be helpful for your loved ones to share, vent, and feel lighter. Show interest by maintaining eye contact and nodding your head when necessary. Be there for your loved one and let them do the talking. If they find it difficult to open up, reassure them that you are there to listen whenever they are ready.

Use the correct pronouns: To know how someone identifies, all you must do is listen carefully when they talk about themselves. You don’t need to know all the terms related to transgenders to show support. Try to be mindful and use the language your loved one prefers. Some closely identify with a word/name or with their preferred pronoun. Using the correct terms shows love and respect for the person. If by chance, you use the wrong pronoun or name, do apologize and correct yourself. Your loved one may appreciate the effort and understand that adjusting takes some time.

Ask questions correctly: If you don’t understand or need more clarity on something your loved one talked about, politely ask them for guidance. It is likely that they have a lot of information and may know the answer. However, ask them if it’s okay to talk and ask these questions. People have their boundaries, and it needs to be respected.

Be an active Ally: Trans individuals often face discrimination and ill-treatment from others around them. Being an ally means consistently noticing and challenging ignorance in yourself and others around you. This can mean telling someone that their ‘joke is not funny’, ‘asking your trans friends what they need when someone uses the wrong pronoun or name or participating in pride rallies and events to show support for the rights of trans individuals. The form of support can differ from person to person.