terms to know
Since the language describing the LGBTQ community is new and constantly evolving to become more inclusive, it can be difficult to understand. This section will try to help you understand the terms used to describe gender & sexuality.
*It should be noted that these are only introductory definitions and many people have differing ideas about what each of these concepts mean.
*It should be noted that these are only introductory definitions and many people have differing ideas about what each of these concepts mean.
sexual minorities
A term commonly used to describe the cultural group comprised of people that are not straight or cisgender (defined below).
It is my opinion that this term should NOT be used to encompass the trans* community. Transgender people constitute a gender minority because that part of their identity concerns gender NOT sexuality.
It is my opinion that this term should NOT be used to encompass the trans* community. Transgender people constitute a gender minority because that part of their identity concerns gender NOT sexuality.
There are many identities within this cultural group, including:
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Some acronyms used to describe this group:
Additionally, some people (including me) choose to use the term "queer community" to describe this cultural group. |
SEX
A person's biological sex (male, female, or intersex).
Some people refer to this as "what's between your legs," which illustrates the common assumption that genitalia determine a person's sex. However, sex is much more complicated than we typically consider, and a static definition does NOT currently exist. At birth, doctors assign babies to a sex (male or female) based on what the infant's genitalia look like.
I consider sex to be comprised of a person's:
Some people refer to this as "what's between your legs," which illustrates the common assumption that genitalia determine a person's sex. However, sex is much more complicated than we typically consider, and a static definition does NOT currently exist. At birth, doctors assign babies to a sex (male or female) based on what the infant's genitalia look like.
I consider sex to be comprised of a person's:
- genetics (XX or XY chromosomes)
- gonads (testes, ovaries, or variations)
- genitalia (penis, clitoris/vagina, or variations)
- secondary sex characteristics (fat distribution, vocal chords, hair, etc.)
- hormones (testosterone, estrogen, etc.)
gendER
Categories determined by society and defined by social perceptions of human characteristics. In the U.S., there are 2 genders: man and woman. At birth, when you are assigned a sex, you are also assigned a gender that corresponds with that sex. This becomes a part of your social identity and influences your socialization. The characteristics ascribed to gender categories involve varying degrees of masculine and feminine traits, actions, behaviors, choices, etc. Unlike gender identity, other peoples' perceptions of a person play a part in the creation of an individual's gender.
gender identity
A person's inner sense of what gender they are; who you feel yourself to be. Some people refer to this as "what's between your ears." Others' perceptions are not a factor with gender identity. The only person that can determine someone's gender identity is that individual. This encompasses more categories than simply man or woman. Other identities include:
- transgender
- FTM
- MTF
- agender
- bigender
- genderqueer
- androgynous
gender expression
The way in which you express your gender (pretty self-explanatory). This involves clothing, hair styles, behaviors, speech patterns, and anything else that portrays gender.
sexual orientation
Comprised of labels that people use to describe their patterns of sexual attraction to others. It is based on the gender identity of the individual and the gender(s) of the people that person is attracted to. It can also describe how and when (if ever) a person experiences sexual attraction.
romantic orientation
Similar to sexual orientation, but it describes the romantic attraction regardless of whether that attraction involves sexual components. Someone can have a hetero romantic orientation while simultaneously having a queer sexual orientation. There are also people who have romantic but not sexual attractions to people (asexual), as well as people who only experience sexual attraction to people whom they are romantically attracted (demisexual).
sexual behavior
The sexual activity a person does or does not engage in, which may or may not be congruent with the person's sexual orientation. Someone's sexual behavior does NOT define their sexual orientation. For example, a woman that doesn't have sex isn't necessarily asexual.
relationship behavior
Describes the types of romantic relationships of a person. For instance, a person can be monogamous, polyamorous, single, dating, married, etc. Again, this does not define a person's sexual or romantic orientations. For example, a bisexual woman that is married to a man is NOT straight; she's bisexual.