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Table 1 Important terms to know when best serving a TGD population [11]

From: Disordered eating and considerations for the transgender community: a review of the literature and clinical guidance for assessment and treatment

Term

Description

Gender identity

An inner sense of one’s own gender

Gender expression

The outward appearance or manifestation of gender, such as clothing, hair, voice infliction, and mannerisms

Gender affirming care

Healthcare that is designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity

Assigned sex at birth

Classification of a person as male, female, intersex, or another sex based on anatomy (such as genitalia) and chromosomes

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different that associated with their assigned sex at birth

Cisgender

A term to describe someone whose gender identity corresponds with their assigned sex at birth

Non-binary

An umbrella term that encompasses gender identities that do not fit within the gender binary (e.g. binary that defines gender as male/female only). People who use this term to describe their gender identity tend to reject the notion that gender must be dichotomous (man/male/masculine vs. woman/female/feminine) and based on sex assigned at birth. Words that people may use to describe their non-binary identity include “gender-fluid”, “gender nonconforming”, and “genderqueer.”

Transmasculine

An umbrella term that indicates a person’s gender identity is more masculine. This term is most often used by people assigned female sex at birth who affirm a masculine-leaning gender

Transfeminine

An umbrella term that indicates a person’s gender identity is more feminine. This term is most often used by people assigned male sex at birth who affirm a feminine-leaning gender

Agender

An identity where the individual does not see themselves as having a gender or a gender identity (this can fall under a gender-void umbrella). This is separate from non-binary identities, which implies a gender identity that may be a combination of masculinity and femininity

Cisnormativity

The inherent societal assumption that being cisgender is “normal” or “correct”, and that people with other genders should strive to be cisgender. This ideology often leads to the marginalization and discrimination of transgender and gender diverse individuals

Transphobia

A fear, dislike of, or prejudice against TGD people

Internalized transphobia

The inward direction of transphobia to the self. This can result in some TGD people feeling ashamed or self-hatred for their gender diversity and may seek to hide their gender from others. Some people prefer the term “internalized transnegativity” because this locates prejudice within society rather than within the individual

  1. Meanings associated with terms are rapidly evolving and led by TGD community members and activists. The included descriptions in this table are considered to represent common definitions at time of publication but it is strongly encouraged that providers continue to self-educate to be aware of up-to-date terminology