Androgen
Androgen
A generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics by binding to androgen receptors. This includes the activity of the accessory male sex organs and development of male secondary sex characteristics. Androgens, which were first discovered in 1936, are also called androgenic hormones or testoids. The most well-known androgen is testosterone.
Androgynes
A person who is psychologically androgynous. The word androgyne was previously applied only to androgynous floral. The word is now being used to describe the personhood of an androgynous individual. This may include a person with an androgynous physical appearance, a person with a combination of both masculine and feminine personality traits, or a person who has no sense of being either male or female. Not everyone who is androgynous looking is an androgyne, and not every androgyne looks androgynous.
Androgenous
A person who dresses in a non-specific gender fashion. Being both male and female or neither. Presenting as neither clearly masculine or feminine. Having an ambiguous sexual or gender identity. Being both male and female; hermaphrodite.
Andropause
The impact of decreasing androgens is known as andropause, also called “male menopause” or PADAM – Partial Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male. It is a normal part of aging, although, for some men it is accompanied by a gradual and undesired decline in their sexuality, mood and overall energy. Sometimes it can even expose men to more serious health risks. Basically, testosterone levels drop while estrogen percentages increase.
Legal Birth Gender
The gender assigned to a person at birth. This usually relates to the genitalia that are the most prominent. All babies have the potential for either gender when they are first conceived. A combination of hormones and genetics can create a wide range of gender expressions. Sometimes the genders are ambiguous and the doctors and parents will often promote one gender over through the use of surgery and or hormones. A large number of babies are born inter-sexed but even so will often be raised as a specific gender. This is not true in every culture, but in the Western culture we hold to a very rigid male and female only gender model. Children are normally asked to choose between the two.
Cross-dress
Dressing in the manner of the opposite gender.
Cross-dressing (Cross-dressing or cross dressing)
The act of wearing clothing normally associated with the other gender. There are a variety of reasons for cross-dressing. Most have to do with gender identity, but there are many other reasons as well. Normally there is a distinction made between someone who is a cross-dresser and someone who is transgender. Referring to a transgender person as “just a cross-dresser” is often regarded as demeaning or insulting.
Cross-dressers (cross-dressers or cross dressers)
Those who wear the clothing of the “other” gender but have little desire to physically alter their gender. The reasons and catalysts to cross-dress are varied. It may result from fundamental brain chemistry, reconciling abuse from a parent or trusted caregiver (usually resulting in a fetish), biologically inter-sexed, or simple curiosity. Often cross-dressing is done for comfort or to relieve tension, and usually has a sexual component attached to it.
Cross-Gender
When a person expresses themselves in a manner related to the other gender. This includes cross-dressing, mannerisms, interests, choice of friends, career and any other function that relates to a specific gender. The notion that someone has crossed a gender line stems from the idea that the polarized gender model contains gender dictums that cover a wide range of actions and activities.
Drab
When a person dresses as their legal birth gender. This term is usually used when a cross-dressing male is not presenting as female, but as a male. Also used to signify the dress-code for a particular outing or event. ie:”Come in drab that day.”
Dressed
When a person dresses as the other gender.
Drag Queens or Drag Kings
These individuals usually dress as an iconic gender image simply for fun. This group is the one most people see on the news and on stage. Most of those engaged in this activity are part of the LGBTQI+ community, however, anyone dressed as an exaggerated gender stereotype would qualify.
Enfemme
A man who dresses up as a woman, or a boy who dresses up as a girl for the purpose of acting or living as a person of that gender. Enfemme or En-femme refers to the exhibiting a female presentation by a male. Dressing as completely female in order to pass as a female is referred to as full-enfemme.
Eunuch
A person who is of the third gender (or sex). Many were born this way, however in ancient times infants were often castrated early to stop the hormonal changes and make a male more feminine or gender neutral. These individuals were then employed in a variety of services. The most well-known being that of harem servants. Many were employed as domestics, religious specialists, servants of the ruler, or even military commanders. According to Byzantine historian Kathryn Ringrose, while the pagans of Classical Antiquity based their notions of gender purely on the physical, the Byzantine Christian based their definitions of gender more on the behavior of the person. More about eunuchs may be found at the following link.
For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuch
F2M
Female to male transgender. Someone who is born biologically female but identifies as male, and will usually present as male.
Gender Blessed
When a person exhibits the traits and actions of both genders, and feels comfortable in either role to some extent, they are known as gender blessed. This label is used in contrast to the term gender identity disorder in that the condition of being transgender is look at as a positive state rather than a negative one. (See two-spirits.)
Gender-Congruent
A harmonious balance of physical gender and psychological gender identity (gender-congruency).
Gender-Divergent
To deviate from a person’s assigned biological legal birth gender. Becoming different in form or kind. To depart from the gender that society has labeled you (gender-divergence).
Gender Dysphoria
Being discontented with the biological legal birth gender. A term to describe the separation between a person’s psychological, emotional and biological genders.
Gender Euphoria
The act of cross-dressing may cause the brain to release endorphins. This intense elation is known as gender euphoria. This euphoria is usually experienced the first few times a person cross-dresses, but may be felt each time a person is dressed and last for years until the newness wears thin.
Gender Fluid
Most who define themselves as gender fluid, do so by expressing both of the gender binaries of male and female, as well as the non-binary at different times. The way this is expressed differs from person to person. Many trans youth have embraced this identity since it can be appropriated uniquely. This term was first introduced by Kate Bornstein, author of Gender Outlaw, and later mainstreamed into Western Culture at the 2010 Transgender Religious Leaders Summit in Berkeley California by Minister Kathy Randall Klein, Rev. Megan Rohrer, Rev. Louis Mitchell, and Chris Paige MDiv. The term was promoted on the Light in the Closet website as well as the Gender Tree website, authored by Sandra Stewart.
Gender-Incongruent
A psychological state where physical gender and psychological gender are out-of-sync (gender-incongruency).
Gender Linked
When actions are based on gender, and viewed as either appropriate or not. Actions, thoughts and expressions may be acceptable or expected from one gender and not the other. This is associated with the polarized two-gender model of male and female.
Gender Variance
A term that refers to those expressions of gender that do not conform to the dominant gender norms (masculinity and femininity) of Western culture.
Gender Queer and Inter Gender
These are terms for gender identities other than man or woman. People who identify as gender queer may think of themselves as being both genders rather than choosing either male or female. They have embraced a gender identity well outside of the polarized gender model of male and female. Some see “gender queer” as a third gender to complement the traditional two, while others identify as genderless or a-gender. Gender queer can also be an umbrella term for the queer community
Inter-Sexed or Hermaphrodites
Many people are born with genitals which show characteristics of both genders. Most have surgery while they are still infants. In the last few years though, the validity of this early surgery has come into serious questioning, mostly due to the fact that those who have been subjected to this alteration often feel they grew up with an essential part of themselves missing. A term also used is third gender.
LGBT (also GLBT/GLBTI/LGBTQI+/LGBTQI)
LGBT is an initialism referring to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender/transsexual people. This term was first used in the 1990s. GLBT is also used, but with the terms in a different order. GLBTI has added an additional term or group, “Inter-sexed” as well. GLBTI is fairly new, and reflects an attitude of allowing for additional gender expressions. Sometimes the letter “S” is added as well to include the term “Straight.” LGBTQI+ adds the category of Gender Queer.
M2F
Male to female transgender. Someone who is born biologically male but identifies as female. They usually present as female.
Opposite Gender
There are many causes and catalysts that would make an individual desire to become more like the “opposite gender.” Even in writing this I hesitate to use the term “opposite gender” for that implies a strictly polarized gender model. I use this term only to communicate a starting point in which to understand the concepts of male and female.
Purge
Throwing out all your cross-dressing items, clothing, make-up, etc. This usually takes place after the person who cross-dresses experiences guilt, and has determined never to cross-dress again.
Purging Cycle
A man or woman who cross-dress, then throws out all his feminine items away, or her masculine items, only to purchase more. Cross-dresses again and then throws it all away again. This cycle may continue over and over for years.
Polarized Gender Model (also known as bi-gender or two-gender)
In most Western cultures, genders are seen as only two; male and female. Some cultures recognize three genders and others even five, seven or over fifty. Our mainstream Western culture however adheres to a rigid two gender model, although this is now being challenged. As a result, those who feel like they are both genders, somewhere in-between, or neither male or female, find themselves often relegated to one polarized gender or the other. Our Western culture does not readily dignify those who are outside of this polarized gender model. The Western culture, in practicality, is so fixed on the idea of just two genders that any expression outside of your assigned gender is looked upon disapprovingly.
Third Gender
Also known as third sex. These are individuals that are neither defined as men nor women. Some societies recognize three or more genders. The state of being neither strictly male nor female is in relation to their biology, but can also apply to the spirit or psychology of the person. A person may experience gender identity disorder as a result, however most in this third gender do not view themselves as deficient or broken. More information can be found visiting the web site below.
For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_gender
Transgender / Trans
Often used as an umbrella term for any person who bends the so-called traditional gender roles. Primarily applied to individuals whose gender identity is skewed towards the gender opposite their assigned legal birth gender. They may identify in part or in full with this other gender. Included are cross-dressers, transsexuals, transgenderist and androgynes. Some transgender dress in a non-specific or androgynous gender fashion. Most transgender express this gender identity by wearing clothing that is associated with the other gender and participate in social activities typical for the person of that gender. Many individuals simply identify as transgender without citing a specific sub-category or expression.
Those who struggle with something as fundamental as gender often find themselves also dealing with social stigma or isolation. Many find themselves outside of society, and so seek out other transgender and form communities of their own.
Being a trans person is not a matter of sexual orientation. Often a person who is transgender is mis-labeled as a person who is homosexual. Not all trans people identify as part of the GLB community but some do. The percentage of transgender who identify as homosexual is about the same as the general population.
Although being transgender is not directly related to a person’s sexual orientation or sexual activity, much of the information found on the Internet is skewed towards sex and pornography (there is big money in pornography, not so much money in dispensing clinical information).
While a person’s sexual impulses and orientation are related to gender, the issue of gender identity is distinct from the issue of sexuality. People are sexual beings regardless of gender identity and those impulses exist regardless. It is important to have a discussion about gender that is separate from sexual drives.
The word trans is a shorter version of transgender and more often used now. It is usually used when identifying a specific gender such as, “trans man” and “trans woman” or identifying an age group such as “trans youth:”
Transgenderist
This term is used infrequently to describe a person who lives as a member of the opposite gender either fulltime or part-time, but are not pursuing sexual reassignment. This choice is not by default but rather a conscious decision. They may have facial reconstruction, breast implants and take other measures to look like the other gender, but stop short of sexual reassignment. Sometimes referred to as shemales in the porn industry. (Shemale is consider by most a disrespectful term and invalidates the life choice.) Some who cross-dress prefer to apply the term transgenderist to themselves to allude to their gender-divergent identity and heterosexuality. This term is more narrow in its focus than the more general term transgender.
Transsexual
People who desire to change their gender by fundamentally altering their bodies in order to live as members of the “other” gender. This is accomplished through surgical procedures, hormones, and other medical technologies and may or may not include genitalia sexual reassignment. The issue of sexual gratification is separate from gender identity, as is the issue of sexual orientation.
Transvestite
An older term that refers to a person (especially a male) who adopts the dress and often the behavior typical of the opposite gender, especially for purposes of emotional or sexual gratification. Also known as Tranny.
They / Their / Them (non-specific gender form in place of he/she)
These words have been used for decades when a person is unsure of a another’s gender. When you do not readily identify a gender, someone may say, “I think I saw them jump over the fence. I do not know what they were doing.” In this case an individual has been identified in the neutral as a single person.
These terms may be used without defining one as male or female. Also used by a person who self-defines as neither the male nor female gender. “They, them, theirs” are often used as pronouns.
“They” is used as a singular-plural word within the context of a sentence instead of the clumsily he/she. The term he/she alludes to a strict interpretation of the polarized gender model and does not allow for those who are transgender, gender queer, inter-sexed or hermaphrodites.
There have been attempts to create new terms, but instead it is reasonable to use existing language within this context and broaden the application of the words “they, their, them and themselves.” In the context of he/she, the word they is the nominative case form (singular or plural within the context), them the objective, their the possessive, and themselves the intensive and reflective. – n. pl. they’re a person.
Two-Spirits
In some ancient cultures as with many of the native American tribes, those who were born exhibiting traits that would define them as transgender, or those who were biologically inter-sexed or gender nonspecific were known as two-spirits. These individuals were highly valued and were often encouraged to be medicine men, shamen or counselors.
Coined in 1990, Two-Spirit is a modern, pan-Indigenous umbrella term specific to North American Native cultures, but similar third-gender and gender-diverse roles exist in many different cultures globally.
NOTE: This list of terms is not an exhaustive list, and we apologize if some of the definitions are not more extensive or incomplete. Language is dynamic and definitions change constantly. This list was intended to give a brief understanding of some basic terms. Any omissions are unintentional and not purposefully excluded.