Over the past few years, people have become more and more accepting of the LGBT community; at least more than they were before. And that’s fantastic. But there is one subject that still requires further understanding, and that is gender identity.
If you are not familiar with the term, it is essentially how a person feels about themselves regarding their gender.
In this short guide, I will clarify a few misconceptions, and give some tips on being respectful and inclusive towards this subject.
Sex does not equal gender. It is a common belief that if a person is assigned a certain sex at birth (male or female), it also reflects their identity regards to gender. While true most of the time, this is not always the case. The body you are born with will not always reflect how you feel.
Gender cannot be assumed based on appearances.
The way someone dresses or acts does not have anything to do with their gender, even if it’s easy to assume so. People can dress or act opposite to the gender stereotypes, and it wouldn’t mean anything in regards to their gender.
Always ask for pronouns.
It is important to use the correct pronouns when referring to someone. If you meet someone new or were not yet told, ask. It can be easy to assume, but getting it wrong could really upset the person and it could be a sign of disrespect.