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Sex Assigned at Birth and Gender Identity: What Is The Difference?
Sex Assigned at Birth and Gender Identity: What Is The Difference?
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Sex Assigned at Birth and Gender Identity: What Is The Difference?

A person’s sex assigned at birth, gender identity and gender expression can all be different. Is gender assigned male at birth or female at birth?

Gender identity: Assigned male or female at birth

This video discusses a person’s sex assigned at birth, gender identity and gender expression and how they can all be different. [AMZ-097]

Video: Is sex assigned at birth?

This sex education video explains that who someone is attracted to is not related to:

  • Sex assigned at birth
  • Gender identity
  • Gender expression

Youth

“Sex assigned at birth” refers to the label a medical professional gives to a baby when it is born. A medical professional may say a baby is male, female or intersex, depending on what the medical professional observes about the baby’s body. For example, a baby with a vulva will be labeled a girl, and a baby with a penis will be labeled a boy. Some babies may have bodies or chromosomes that don’t fit the typical categories of male or female. A medical professional may label them as intersex. Sex assigned at birth is about how someone else sees our bodies and does not take into consideration how we feel inside.

Gender identity is all about how we feel inside about our gender. It is an internal feeling or sense a person has of being male, female, somewhere in between or something else altogether. Sometimes people’s gender identity matches their bodies, and sometimes it does not. A person may be born with a penis and identify as a boy or born with a vagina and identify as a girl. These people have a gender identity that is called “cisgender.” Or someone may be born with a penis and identify as a girl or born with a vagina and identify as a boy. These people may have a gender identity called “transgender.” The way some people feel or sees themselves may not fit into female-male categories. These people may call themselves “gender expansive,” “genderqueer,” “gender nonbinary” or something else. Some people may not want to use a label to describe themselves.

When you share your gender identity with the world through clothing, makeup, how you talk, act and more, it is called “gender expression.” A person’s sex assigned at birth, gender identity and gender expression can all be different. Who someone is attracted to—their sexual orientation—is not related to sex assigned at birth, gender identity or gender expression. Everyone has a sex assigned at birth, a gender identity and a sexual orientation.

What’s important to remember is that people deserve to express themselves in ways that feel right for them and to be respected no matter how they identify, look, dress or label themselves.

FAQs

Are there more genders than “boy” and “girl”?

Yes, there are totally more than two genders! Some people identify as a gender that is not male or female, some identify as more than one gender, and some people don’t identify as any gender.

How can I tell a person’s gender?

It’s okay if you can’t identify a person’s gender when you first meet. It’s more important not to judge someone based on the gender that person uses to identify themselves.

 

We usually assume people’s gender identity based on how they look or dress, but some people’s gender identity may not match how they look or dress. In some situations, when you’re not sure how someone identifies, it’s okay to say, “I want to be respectful of how you identify, so could you tell me which pronoun you prefer I use?” This gives the person an opportunity to tell you their pronoun (he, she or another word).

What should I do if I don’t feel like either a boy or girl, or if how I feel doesn’t match my body?

Lots of people have qualities that are associated with a different gender. If you feel like your gender identity does not fit neatly into a boy or girl category, that’s okay. You may choose to dress or style your hair in a way that matches how you feel. As you figure out what feels right for you, seeking the support of a trusted adult can be extremely helpful!

 

If you feel like your body does not match how you feel inside, then you should definitely talk to an adult you can trust. People who feel like their bodies do not match how they feel inside may identify as transgender or trans. You can get help figuring out how to have what you feel inside reflected on the outside with the help of trusted adults, like parents, counselors and doctors.

Parents

Sex assigned at birth or biological sex is the label a medical professional gives a baby when it is born. This assignment is usually based on what a doctor observes about a baby’s body. Babies born with penises are labeled male, and babies born with vulvas are labeled female. Babies whose bodies do not fit neatly into a male or female category are labeled intersex. Sex assigned at birth is about what someone observes about another person’s body, not how that person may feel internally about being male, female or another gender.

Gender identity is the feeling someone has inside about being male, female or something in between. Everyone has a gender identity. Sometimes people’s gender identity matches their bodies, and sometimes it does not. A person may be born with a penis and identify as a boy or born with a vagina and identify as a girl. This person may have a gender identity that is called “cisgender.” Or someone may be born with a penis and identify as a girl or born with a vagina and identify as a boy. This person may have a gender identity that is called “transgender.”

Terms like “genderqueer,” “gender nonbinary” or “gender expansive” may be used to refer to anyone who identifies as neither male nor female, both male and female or a combination of different genders. “Genderfluid” is another identity that is similar to genderqueer. Some people experience their gender as fluid. This means they may feel like a mix of masculine and feminine qualities or feel more feminine sometimes and more masculine at other times. This is called gender fluidity, and it is not related to a person’s sex assigned at birth or biological sex.

People express a sense of masculinity, femininity or something in between through their daily choices about appearance. This is called “gender expression,” and it can be influenced by how someone feels inside, family expectations, society’s expectations and other influences. Sometimes people’s gender expression matches their gender identity, and sometimes it does not. Gender expression can also change throughout people’s lives as they learn more about themselves and what masculinity and femininity mean to them and how they choose to express themselves on any given day.

Gender identity and expression don’t tell us anything about who a person is attracted to. “Sexual orientation” refers to what genders we are attracted to.

Gender roles are the societal norms that dictate the types of behaviors that are generally considered appropriate for people based on their actual or perceived gender. As parents, guardians and other trusted adults, it is important that we recognize how harmful gender roles can be if we force them on young people. For example, insisting that a boy not cry when he is hurt or sad limits his ability to express a full range of human emotions and empathize with others. Gender roles can limit young people’s ability to be who they truly are when, for example, a girl who wants to play sports is instead encouraged to be “ladylike.” When children are encouraged in subtle—and not-so subtle—ways to adhere to strict gender roles, it can cause significant anxiety, insecurity, stress and low self-esteem for both boys and girls. 

With all this in mind, we can support children in shaping attitudes about gender that encourage respect for the many ways that people choose to identify and express themselves.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

There are lots of terms for gender identity, and it’s not important that you or your child memorize definitions. It is more important for children to understand that gender identity and expression are spectrums, and they don’t need to be afraid if they see someone different or if they feel different in terms of how they identify or express their gender. These conversation starters are a way to make sure your child feels comfortable asking questions and talking with you about these topics.

You can also talk with your children about cultural differences in terms of gender. A great way to start talking about these issues is learning about gender expression and how masculinity and femininity are defined in different cultures (e.g., Scottish kilts).

When you see people who challenge conventional ideas about gender identity and expression—like Prince (gender expression) or Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox, who identify as transgender—you could also start a conversation with your child using some of the following:

Do you think someone like Prince was teased for being both masculine and feminine?

 It seems like it’s not easy when someone expresses their gender in a way that people don’t understand. What do you think?

 Have you ever seen someone teased for being too much like a girl or too much like a boy? How did that make you feel? What did you do?

Educators

Sex assigned at birth or biological sex is the label a medical professional gives a baby when it is born. This assignment is usually based on what a doctor observes about a baby’s body. Babies born with penises are labeled male, and babies born with vulvas are labeled female. Babies whose bodies do not fit neatly into a male or female category are labeled intersex. Sex assigned at birth is about what someone observes about another person’s body, not how that person may feel internally about being male, female or another gender.

Gender identity is the feeling someone has inside about being male, female or something in between. Everyone has a gender identity. Sometimes people’s gender identity matches their bodies, and sometimes it does not. A person may be born with a penis and identify as a boy or born with a vagina and identify as a girl. This person may have a gender identity that is called “cisgender.” Or someone may be born with a penis and identify as a girl or born with a vagina and identify as a boy. This person may have a gender identity that is called “transgender.”

Terms like “genderqueer,” “gender nonbinary” or “gender expansive” may be used to refer to anyone who identifies as neither male nor female, both male and female or a combination of different genders. “Genderfluid” is another identity that is similar to genderqueer. Some people experience their gender as fluid. This means they may feel like a mix of masculine and feminine qualities or feel more feminine sometimes and more masculine at other times. This is called gender fluidity, and it is not related to a person’s sex assigned at birth or biological sex.

People express a sense of masculinity, femininity or something in between through their daily choices about appearance. This is called “gender expression,” and it can be influenced by how someone feels inside, family expectations, society’s expectations and other influences. Sometimes people’s gender expression matches their gender identity, and sometimes it does not. Gender expression can also change throughout people’s lives as they learn more about themselves and what masculinity and femininity mean to them and how they choose to express themselves on any given day.

Gender identity and expression don’t tell us anything about who a person is attracted to. “Sexual orientation” refers to what genders we are attracted to.

Gender roles are the societal norms that dictate the types of behaviors that are generally considered appropriate for people based on their actual or perceived gender. As parents, guardians and other trusted adults, it is important that we recognize how harmful gender roles can be if we force them on young people. For example, insisting that a boy not cry when he is hurt or sad limits his ability to express a full range of human emotions and empathize with others. Gender roles can limit young people’s ability to be who they truly are when, for example, a girl who wants to play sports is instead encouraged to be “ladylike.” When children are encouraged in subtle—and not-so subtle—ways to adhere to strict gender roles, it can cause significant anxiety, insecurity, stress and low self-esteem for both boys and girls. 

With all this in mind, we can support children in shaping attitudes about gender that encourage respect for the many ways that people choose to identify and express themselves.

National Sex Education Standards

AP.8.CC.1 - Human Reproductive Systems

Describe human reproductive systems, including the external and internal body parts and their functions, and that there are naturally occuring variations in human bodies (e.g., intersex, vulvas, circumcised and intact penises)

View all AP.8.CC.1 Videos

GI.5.CC.1 - Sex Assigned at Birth and Gender Identity

Distinguish between sex assigned at birth and gender identity and explain how they may or may not differ

View all GI.5.CC.1 Videos

GI.5.CC.2 - Differences between Cisgender, Transgender, Gender Nonbinary, Gender Expansive, and Gender Identity

Define and explain differences between cisgender, transgender, gender nonbinary, gender expansive, and gender identity

View all GI.5.CC.2 Videos

GI.5.CC.3 - Gender Expression and Gender Identity

Explain that gender expression and gender identity exist along a spectrum

View all GI.5.CC.3 Videos

International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education

3.1, ages 9-12

The Social Construction of Gender and Gender Norms

View videos for 3.1 (ages 9-12)

Discussion Questions

After watching the video with your class, process it using the following discussion questions:
  • What are some traditional gender roles shown in the video?
  • How might people express their gender in ways that don’t match traditional gender roles?
  • How do you think it would feel to be able to express your gender in a way that doesn’t match traditional gender roles? Why?
  • What are some things you can do if you see a person being bullied for expressing their gender in a way that does not match traditional gender roles?

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