Gender Identity and Expression

Gender (noun):
Refers to the socially constructed roles, expectations, activities, behaviours and attributes that society at any given time associates with a person of any sex, assuming any form of gender identity or gender expression. (Cap 581)

Gender identity (noun):
Refers to each person's internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth, including the personal sense of the body (which may involve, if freely chosen, modification of bodily appearance and, or functions by medical, surgical or other means) and other expressions of gender, including name, dress, speech and mannerisms. (Cap 540 & Cap 567)

Gender expression (noun):
Refers to each person's manifestation of their gender identity, and, or the one that is perceived by others. (Cap 540 & Cap 567)

Trans (adjective):
This is an inclusive umbrella term referring to people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differ from the sex/gender they were assigned at birth. It may include, but is not limited to: people who identify as transsexual, transgender, transvestite/cross-dressing, androgyne, polygender, genderqueer, agender, gender variant, gender non-conforming, or with any other gender identity and/or expression which does not meet the societal and cultural expectations placed on gender identity.

Trans man:
A term used to identify a person assigned a female gender at birth and who identifies as a male, lives as a man, or identifies as masculine.

Trans woman:
A term used to identify a person assigned a male gender at birth and who identifies as a female, lives as a woman, or identifies as feminine.

Cisgender (adjective):
A term referring to those people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

Non-binary:
Describes a person whose gender identity falls outside the traditional gender binary. Other terms for people whose gender identity falls outside the gender binary include gender variant, gender expansive, gender fluid gender queer, etc. Gender expression may or may not differ from a society's norms for males and females.

Cross-gender hormonal therapy (noun):
The administration of hormone therapy in order to match a person's physical characteristics to their gender identity.

Gender affirmation process (Transition) (noun):
Refers to a series of steps people may take to live in the gender they identify with. Transition can be social and/or medical. Steps may include coming out to family, friends and colleagues; dressing and acting according to one's gender; changing one's name and/or sex/gender on legal documents; medical treatments including hormone therapies and possibly one or more types of surgery.

Gender reassignment:
Refers to the process through which people re-define the gender in which they live in order to better express their gender identity. This process may, but does not have to, involve medical assistance including hormone therapies and any surgical procedures that trans people undergo to align their body with their gender.

Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS):
Medical term for what trans people often call gender confirmation/affirmation surgery, which is sometimes (but not always) part of a person's transition.

Gender recognition:
A process whereby a trans person's gender is recognized in law, or the achievement of the process.