Gender and Society

Sex

Refers to the biological attribute

Gender Identity

a person's internal sense of being male or female

Cisgender

term used when gender identity and/or expression aligns with the sex assigned at birth

Transgender

an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex

Nonbinary

A spectrum of gender identities and expressions, often based on the rejection of the gender binary's assumption that gender is male or female.

Agender

A person who identifies self as without gender

Genderfluid

Someone whose gender identity or expression shifts between man/masculine and woman/feminine or falls somewhere along this spectrum

Genderqueer

a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.

Bigender

An individual who identifies as two genders.

Pangender

gender identity encompassing all genders

Gender Non-conforming

A term for individuals whose gender expression is different from societal expectations related to gender.

Androgynous

having features of both sexes; suitable for both male and female

Gender Dysphoria

clinically significant distress caused by a mismatch between one's gender

Sexual Orientation

a person's romantic and emotional attraction to another person

Asexual

does not experience sexual attraction

Ally

supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ individuals

Assigned Sex

sex assigned at birth

Gender Roles

Societal expectations for behavior based on gender.

Gender Binary

the idea that there are only two types of people - male-bodied people who are masculine and female-bodied people who are feminine

Deadname

The act of referring to a transgender person (who has changed their name) by the name they were assigned at birth.

Assigned Female at Birth/Assigned Male at Birth (AFAB/AMAB)

term used to describe the sex assigned at birth

Biphobia

The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who love and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.

Bisexual

attracted to more than one gender and often interchangeable

Gay

attracted to the same gender

Gender

socially and culturally developed but not culturally universal

Androgyny

ambiguous gender

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

The outcome document of the Fourth World Conference on Women in September 1995, considered as blueprint for improving position of women and advancing women's rights.

CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women)

defines what constitutes discrimination against women (1979)

Gender Discrimination

Any practice, policy, or procedure that denies equality of treatment to an individual or to a group because of gender.

Displace Women

those who fled or been driven from their communities to other localities. 75% are women and children.

Empowerment

process and outcome of people taking control over their lives

Equality

revised term for "equal opportunities". It protects people from minority groups from being discriminated against.

Female Genital Mutilation

a procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons

Female Infanticide

killing of a girl child within weeks of her birth. Prevalent in China

Femicide

the killing of women because of their gender

Feminism

movement to create equality of women and men

Feminist Theory

examination of women's position in society, based on the belief that current positions are unequal and unjust

Gender Analysis

variety of methods to understand the relationship between men and women

Gender Awareness

Understanding and recognizing gender issues in society.

Gender Blindness

failure to recognize that gender is an essential determinant of social outcomes

Gender in Development

includes biological influences, cognitive influences (learned schemas), learning influences (cultural influences)

Gender Division of Labor

the allocation of different jobs or types of work to women and men

Gender Equality

Equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for all genders.

Gender Equity

Fairness of treatment for all genders according to their respective needs.

Gender Neutral

gender is not considered relevant to development outcome

Gender Sensitive

gender is a means to reach set development goals

Gender Transformative

gender is central to promoting gender equality

Gender Planning

planning and development of policies

Gender-aware Policies

recognize and address the different needs, constraints, and priorities of women and men, as well as intersecting identities like age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, to promote gender equality and avoid deepening existing disparities

Gender Sensitivity

ability to acknowledge and highlight existing gender differences

Gender Violence

threat of men on women because of gender