Genderqueer: May not identify as male or female, but as both, neither or a blend. They’re not asked whether they’ve had the surgery, called by incorrect pronouns, nor do they have to worry about harassment or violence. For example, people who are gender normative can assimilate without being stared at. Gender normative privilege: This is a subset of gender normative, which refers to the privilege experienced simply by virtue of being gender normative or perceived as such. Gender normative: Behaving and appearing in ways considered typical for one’s gender. Gender non-conforming: Behaving and appearing in ways considered atypical for one’s gender. He recently made headlines for wearing a skirt in the company’s new Spring/Summer 2016 ad campaign. Think Jaden Smith, who’s the newest face of Louis Vuitton’s women’s line. Gender fluid: Gender identity that varies over time. Gender binary: The idea that there are only two distinct and different genders: Female/Male. In general, demisexuals aren’t sexually attracted to anyone of any gender, until they are drawn to a specific person. Perhaps the most famous asexual is Tim Gunn, of Project Runway fame.īigender: People who feel they have both a male and female side.Ĭisgender: Gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth, or in other words, not transgender.ĭemiromantic: Doesn’t experience romantic attraction until a strong emotional bond is formed.ĭemisexual: Doesn’t experience sexual attraction until a strong emotional connection is formed. Who knew there were so many? Here are gender and sexuality terms that you might not know about but probably should:Īromantic: Experiences little or no romantic attraction to others.Īsexual: Someone who doesn’t experience sexual attraction to others. With the notion that there’s a wide spectrum of sexual identity - which can be fluid - means that there’s a need for words to define who we are. An equal number expected it to grow even more accepting in the next 10 years. According to the Pew Research Center, a 2013 survey found that 92 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults in America said that society has become more accepting of them in the past decade.
Look no further than Facebook, which expanded its 58 gender options by allowing members to add up to 10 gender terms. This is a whole new generation, with increasing awareness when it comes to identity and sexuality.
But what about “pansexual,” “demisexual” or “homoromantic?” I hadn’t heard of any of these, but my daughter knew all about them and more. Sexuality terms like “heterosexual,” “bisexual” and “transgender” are well known.