The word “transgender” is an umbrella term that describes those who have a gender different from the sex assigned at birth: male, female or intersex.
“Transsexual” is a more specific term that falls under transgender. This word can be contentious and should not be used unless someone specifically requests to be referred to as such.
What exactly does it mean to be transgender?
The term transgender can mean different things to different people. There are a number of other labels that transgender people use to describe their gender.
It can be confusing at first, especially if you or someone you know thinks they might be transgender.
For example, someone who was assigned female at birth and has a male sense of self could be classified as transgender.
A person who was assigned male at birth and has a female sense of self could also be classified as transgender.
Sometimes transgender people use the abbreviated term “trans” to convey the idea that the sex they were assigned at birth does not fully and accurately reflect their deep sense of self or internal experience of gender.
Transgender people may identify as female, male, a combination of the two, or something else entirely.
The word transgender can also be used in conjunction with other labels to indicate the gender or sex a person knows they are.
For example, someone can identify as a transgender man, a transgender woman, or a non-binary transgender person.
Non-binary is an umbrella term that describes those who have a gender that cannot be exclusively categorized as male or female.
Generally, the term transgender provides information about the extent to which a person identifies with the sex assigned to them at birth.
The next word often communicates important information about how someone experiences and understands gender, as well as how they might want to be referred.
For example, a transgender man is someone who does not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth and who has a masculine self-image.
Some transgender people change their appearance, body, name, or legal gender marker to convey and affirm their internal experience of gender. Others don't feel the need to make these changes to express and validate this aspect of who they are. Anyway, it's OK.
What exactly does it mean to be transsexual?
Historically and medically, the term transsexual was used to indicate a difference between gender identity (one's internal experience of gender) and sex assigned at birth (male, female, or intersex).
Specifically, the term is often (but not always) used to communicate that gender experience involves medical changes, such as hormones or surgery , which help alter their anatomy and appearance to more closely align with their gender identity.
Similar to the word transgender, the meaning of the word transsexual can vary from person to person, culture to culture, and throughout history.
Despite their similar definitions, many transgender people do not identify as transsexual.
Transsexual is not a generic term. It should never be used to refer to the entire transgender community.
It is important to remember that the term transsexual does not include or reflect the experience of many people in the transgender community. Therefore, it should not be used to refer to anyone – unless they specifically state that preference.
Additionally, some transgender people find the word transsexual offensive and stigmatizing. This is due to its history and roots in the professional fields of medicine and psychology, which have used the term to mislabel all transgender people as mentally ill or sexually deviant.
Medical and mental health professionals now understand that having a transgender or transsexual gender identity is not a mental illness and that transgender identities are a natural part of the diversity of human genders and gender experiences.
How do you know which term(s) to use to refer to someone?
The best way to figure out what term you should use to refer to someone is to ask them.
If you are unsure, asking the person is always the best option.
The word someone uses to describe their gender can be a private and sensitive topic. Many people do not share this information publicly or with strangers.
It is not always necessary to know or agree with how someone identifies their gender in order to interact with them respectfully.
If you're in a situation where asking isn't possible or doesn't seem appropriate, the next best option is to ask someone else – who ideally knows the person – if they know how the person in question likes to be referred.
If you need to refer to someone but don't know their gender or pronoun, it's best to avoid gendered language and use the person's name instead.
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