Glossary of Terms: English/Gaeilge

A gender identity which is considered to be neutral. It may also be used to mean genderless – some people who consider themselves neutrally gendered or genderless may identify as both agender and gender neutral, while others prefer one term or the other.

The use of a first, middle and/or last name that is different from a person's legal name, often chosen as a reflection of gender identity.

Adjective for someone whose gender identity is aligned with their sex assigned at birth.

The incorrect assumption that everyone is cisgender, which structurally and socially privileges cisgender individuals and disadvantages those with diverse gender identities.

Sexually or romantically attracted to people of the same gender or sex.

A gender system which only recognises women and men.

A term used to describe the psychological distress caused by an incongruence between one’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth.

The way in which people show their gender identity, especially through dress, mannerisms and behaviour.

Gender fluid individuals experience different gender identities at different times. A gender fluid person’s gender identity can be multiple genders at once, then switch to none at all, or move between single gender identities. Some gender fluid people regularly move between only a few specific genders, perhaps as few as two.

Denotes the gender of person e.g. male (M)/female(F)/non-binary(NB).

Gender identities that fall outside of the binary of man or woman and thus do not conform to traditional genders and their roles. This includes a wide variety of gender identities.

Adhering to or reinforcing particular standards and behaviours expected of male/masculinity and female/femininity.

Having a gender identity that is not simply male or female, or experiencing gender in a way that is different from the way society expects.

Sexually or romantically attracted to men if you are a woman, and women if you are a man.

Harmful or unfair words and/or actions based on a fear or dislike of gay people or queer people (= people who do not fit a society’s traditional ideas about gender or sexuality).

Refer to a person with words or a phrase (e.g. pronouns) that do not accurately reflect their gender identity.

Having a gender identity that is not simply male or female.

An expression for when a person is seen by others as their true gender, as opposed to the gender assigned to them at birth. Some people dislike this word as it implies that trans people are hiding something. For some trans people, however, ‘passing’ or being seen as their true gender, is important.

Someone's pronouns are the way they choose to be referred to according to their gender identity, e.g. she/her, they/them, he/him, he/they, they/she.

Having or relating to a gender identity or a sexuality that does not fit society's traditional ideas about gender or sexuality.

The physical state of being either male, female, or intersex.

The gender that someone is said to be when they are born. This is usually based on their external genitalia.

1. The fact of someone being sexually or romantically attracted to people of a particular gender, or more than one gender.
2. People who are sexually or romantically attracted to people of a particular gender, or more than one gender, considered as a group.

Used to describe someone whose gender does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Short for transgender, and an umbrella term for all gender (and no gender) identities that are not cisgender.

A man who was assigned female at birth (AFAB) but identifies as a man. Some trans men make physical changes through hormones or surgery; others do not. Some trans men may refer to themselves as FTM (female-to-male), however others prefer to refer to themselves simply as a man, or men of transgender experience.

A woman who was assigned male at birth (AMAB) but identifies as a woman. Some trans women make physical changes through hormones or surgery; others do not. Some trans women may refer to themselves as MTF (male-to-female), however others prefer to refer to themselves simply as a woman or women of transgender experience.

The fact of being transgender.

Policies, behaviours, rules, etc. that result in a continued unfair advantage to cisgender people (= people whose gender matches the body they were born with) and unfair or harmful treatment of transgender and non-binary people (= people whose gender does not match the body they were born with).