The term “gender identity,” refers to a person’s innate, deeply felt psychological identification as a man, woman or some other gender, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth (e.g., the sex listed on their birth certificate).
- Human Rights Campaign
Gender expression refers to all of the external characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as dress, grooming, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions. Social or cultural norms can vary widely and some characteristics that may be accepted as masculine, feminine or neutral in one culture may not be assessed similarly in another.
- Human Rights Campaign
Peter has never let himself be dictated by society’s norms. He wears his hair long, and although his work uniform requires him to wear trousers he can still wear earrings. He defines himself as a man, yet has always challenged the way he has been perceived with what he chooses to wear.
Pia lives alone. In her 66 years she has never left her home as a woman. She lives behind her window
blinds and only inches out onto her terrace if all her neighbours are on holidays. In the outside world,
Pia is «Paul». She defines herself as a woman but will never come out as one.
Michael has been in opposition to the gender normativity ever since he got into trouble for holding another boy’s hand as a five year old. He had to hide his identity the 24 years he worked in the British Army in fear of being discovered and dishonorably discharged. Now he lives fully as himself. He defines himself as a man, but says things would have been different if treatments had been available when he was younger.
