Vocabulary for Psychology of Gender
Typical: Preferred term for referring to more statistically common conditions. “Normal” is not
preferred, as it indicates that other conditions are “abnormal,” even though they are just less
common. (e.g., Being left handed is less common, though it is in no way abnormal.)
Sex:
A person’s biological sex. The words male and female are used to describe sex categories, and
are based on anatomy and physiology. Sex is almost invariably assigned at birth, based on
the appearance of an infant’s genitals. Note: Individuals are not always born with all maleor all female-typical chromosomes, gonads and anatomy, so these terms are not always the
most accurate way to describe people.
Gender: The traits and behaviors that are culturally defined as appropriate for men or for women.
These are often described with the words feminine, masculine, or androgynous. The word gender
implies that the origin of the characteristic described is learned through social/cultural
transmission, and not biologically innate.
Gender Role: The culturally prescribed behaviors and norms for women or men. These are the
culturally accepted rules of how men and women should behave.
Gender Identity: A person’s awareness and internalized sense of herself/himself as female or male.
Gender is a major portion of an individual’s personal identity.
Androgyny: Refers to either a combination of both male and female characteristics, or
characteristics of neither sex.
Transgender: An umbrella term used for a variety people who do not identify with, or conform to,
the traditional gender roles of their culture. This term is often used as a broad category,
including more specific identities, such as:
Transsexuals: People whose gender identity is wholly or partially incongruent with the sex
assigned at birth. These people feel they are a different gender than their physical body.
Some physically transition to the congruent physical anatomy through sex change surgery
and/or hormone treatments, others opt not to undergo this physical transition. Transsexual
people may be gay, straight, or bisexual – gender identity does not determine sexual
orientation.
Cross-dressers: Those who wear clothing associated with the other gender. They may
identify as male, female, both, or neither, and may identify with any sexual orientation. This
is the preferred term, which has replaced “transvestites.” People cross-dress for many
different reasons, and the term itself does not denote the motive behind the behavior.
Genderqueer: a gender identity outside of the heteronormative, binary gender schema.
Gender nonconformity (Gender variance): behavior or gender expression that does not conform
to dominant gender norms of male and female. This may reflect rejection of some or all
gender roles associated with one’s assigned sex.
Cisgender: a gender identity congruent with the sex assigned at birth.
Heteronormative: cultural norms and attitudes that maintain the expectation that all people fall
into a binary system of male and female, characterized by corresponding biological sex,
gender roles, gender identity, and heterosexual orientation.
Gender incongruence: (aka Gender identity disorder) a gender identity that is not congruent with
physical sex, resulting in significant social and/or psychological distress. Although this has
been historically referred to as gender identity disorder, the person’s gender identity is
typically quite certain, and it is the sexual anatomy that is a source of distress.
Intersex: one of many conditions resulting in chromosomes, gonads, genitals, and/or hormone
patterns that do not match the typical appearance, function, and/or combination associated
with either male or female. An intersex person may have some female and some male
anatomical and physiological characteristics, and may be assigned as male or female at birth,
usually depending on appearance of external genitalia.
Gender Stereotypes: Expectations about a person’s biological and psychological features, based on
beliefs about his or her apparent sex.
Sexism: Prejudice toward people based on their sex.
Sex discrimination is treating people differently based on their sex.
Other Sex: A more appropriate term than “opposite sex” as there are many similarities between
men and women, which you’ll discover this quarter. Males and females tend not to be
“opposite” in most ways.
Sexual Orientation: Refers to who a person is attracted to sexually, usually in relation to one’s own
gender identity. Those who are attracted to other-sex partners are heterosexual, those
attracted to same sex-partners are homosexual, those attracted to both other-sex and same-sex
partners are bisexual, and those not attracted to anyone are asexual.
Intersectionality: A major perspective within gender studies that considers these multiple aspects
of a person’s identity (gender, ethnic, vocational, sexual, etc.), and how they interact to create
a unique identity and experience.