Key Points
4
Table 1. Definitions of Terms Used in This Guideline (cont'd)
Gender role is refers to behaviors, attitudes, and personality traits
that a society (in a given culture and historical period)
designates as masculine or feminine and/or that society
associates with or considers typical of the social role of
men or women.
Sex designated at birth is refers to sex assigned at birth, usually based on genital
anatomy.
Sex is refers to attributes that characterize biological
maleness or femaleness. e best known attributes include
the sex-determining genes, the sex chromosomes, the H-Y
antigen, the gonads, sex hormones, internal and external
genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics.
Sexual orientation is term describes an individual's enduring physical and
emotional attraction to another person. Gender identity
and sexual orientation are not the same. Irrespective of
their gender identity, transgender people may be attracted
to women (g ynephilic), attracted to men (androphilic),
bisexual, asexual, or queer.
Transgender is is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity
and/or gender expression differs from what is typically
associated with their sex designation at birth. Not all
transgender individuals seek treatment.
Transgender man (also:
trans man, female-to-
male, transgender male)
is refers to individuals assigned female at birth but who
identify and live as men.
Transgender woman
(also: trans woman,
male-to-female,
transgender female)
is refers to individuals assigned male at birth but who
identify and live as women.
Transition is refers to the process during which transgender
persons change their physical, social, and/or legal
characteristics consistent with the affirmed gender identity.
Prepubertal children may choose to transition socially.
Transsexual is is an older term that originated in the medical
and psychological communities to refer to individuals
who have permanently transitioned through medical
interventions or desired to do so.
