Gender Identity

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Gender Identity

Gender identity is how a person sees and feels about him or herself as masculine or feminine, and male or female. For most people, gender identity corresponds with physical or biological sex. However, for a segment of the population, the two are not congruent. People whose gender identity and physical sex do not agree are often called transgendered, although each person has his or her own way of identifying him or herself.

Gender identity and sexual orientation are different concepts in Western culture. Sexual orientation refers to a person’s attraction to those of the same or opposite gender. Gender identity refers to who a person believes he or she is. Transgendered people can have any sexual orientation.

A transgendered person is a person whose physical sexual characteristics and gender do not agree. A transsexual person is a transgendered person who undergoes gender or sex reassignment -- changing the physical body to match the gender identity. Gender reassignment is also known as gender transition and is more commonly known as "sex change." Gender diverse people are all around us, even on campus. Here are some sites that can provide more information:

Answers to your Questions about Gender Orientation, Transgender, Transsexuality, and Intersexuality

Understanding Transgender

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