Transgender: An Exploration of Identities

Have you heard of the word “Transgender”? Maybe you’ve been hearing it in the media or someone you know identifies as Trans/Transgender?

As someone who identifies as Transgender, I’d love to review the concept with you all!

So what exactly does Transgender mean? It means that someone identifies as a gender other than their assigned gender at birth (AGAB). So this could mean that someone was assigned female at birth (AFAB) but now identify as gender nonconforming, nonbinary, trans masculine, transgender male, etc. On the other hand, someone assigned male at birth (AMAB) could now identify as nonbinary, gender nonconforming, trans feminine, transgender female, etc. Whereas, if someone identifies according to the gender assigned at birth, congrats you are Cisgender! (For example, if you were assigned female at birth and continue to identify as a female, you are a cisgender female.)

Wait wait wait… Assigned gender.. isn’t that just sex? Yes and no. Sex can be our chromosomes, our genitals, or identity. But not all people identify with their sex as sex and gender are different. Sex is usually defined as our physical bodies while gender is defined as what we feel we are inside of ourselves. So ask yourself this: have you ever questioned your gender? How do you know you are cisgender or transgender? How are you so sure?

Now that isn’t to say that sex and gender are innate to who we are. If we identify a certain way, we can change those things. And medical technology grants us the ability to change our bodies to be more in accordance with our feelings about our gender. Puberty blockers, bottom or top surgery… All of these allow us to feel more aligned with our gender we feel we are! They combat dysphoria while encouraging euphoria!

BUT! It is important to remember that not all transgender people want surgery. AND not all transgender people even feel dysphoria! It is important not to label all transgender people the same because everyone has their own beliefs, expectations, and wants/needs when it comes to being transgender and facing transitioning.

There is so much more to say on this topic but I’d love to hear from all of you in regards to what you’d like to know more about! Let me know in the comments and we can begin having fruitful discussions regarding transgender identities.