MyTransitionPartner v 2.0beta

gender expression is the way you perform your gender

• What it is
  
• Relation to gender identity and sexual orientation
• Types

<

>

Gender expression is the way in which each person performs, or expresses, their gender identity. There are three general types of gender expression: Masculine, feminine, and androgynous. However, there are many different specific types of gender expression a person can have which fall within these broad categories.

Gender expression is much more fluid than gender identity, and this is partly because culture defines which behaviors, clothing, and roles are masculine, feminine, or androgynous. As such, gender expression is purely based on how each person feels comfortable expressing who they are at any given time. 

Your gender identity and gender expression do not have to be congruent with each other. Plenty of people assigned male at birth who identify as a man (cisgender man) express their gender in feminine or androgynous ways. In the same way, a person assigned female at birth but who identifies as a man (transgender man) can express their gender in masculine, feminine, or androgynous ways. Thus, a person assigned male at birth but who identifies as a woman (transgender woman) can express themselves in more masculine ways and still be a woman.

Your sexual orientation and gender expression also do not have to be congruent with each other. While there is a homophobic stereotype that all gay men are effeminate, this is not always the case. Similarly, lesbian women are not always masculine. Thus, gender expression represents an individual's unique association with gender roles and behaviors that is distinct from how they understand their gender or experience sexuality.

Gender expression relies heavily on gender stereotypes. A person whose gender expression is different from their gender identity is considered gender nonconforming or gender expansive. A person whose gender expression is congruent with their gender identity is considered gender typical/conforming.

Broad categories of gender expression

• Masculine: Expressing gender along attributions, behaviors, and roles traditionally or culturally associated with boys/men.
  
• Feminine: Expressing gender along attributions, behaviors, and roles traditionally or culturally associated with girls/women.
• Androgynous: A mixture of masculine and feminine gender expressions.