Sex: the physiological existence, production, and manifestation of chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. Western culture designates three categories of sex; male, female, other (see Intersex).
Gender: the socially constructed system of classifying individuals into two separate categories; boy/man, girl/woman. Gender and sex are often used interchangeably.
Cisgender: an individual who’s sex and gender follow the normative pattern of identity. i.e., a woman who was born with a female body.
Intersex: an individual who’s physiological sex manifests ambiguously. Such ambiguity is often “corrected” surgically at birth, dependent on the reproductive capabilities of the organs.
Transgender: 1. any individual who does not identify within the gender binary of male-female. 2. persons who do not fit within the definition of “girl/woman” or “boy/man.” 3. an individual or group of individuals who medically, socially, and/or surgically alter their perceived gender.
Transsexual: 1. someone who alters their bodily sex to be something other than that which was present at birth. Can be achieved through medical and/or surgical means. 2. Someone who identifies as the “opposite” sex.
Genderqueer: the absence of gender, presence of all genders, or any combination of genders.
MAAB: Male Assigned At Birth
FAAB: Female Assigned At Birth
