We explain what gender identity is, how it is constructed and its differences with sexuality. In addition, laws that contemplate it.
What is gender identity?
Gender identity is the subjective perception that an individual has regarding his or her own gender regardless of their sexual orientation or biological sexual characteristics.
In other words, it is about the personal, intimate, psychological or psychic identification that a person has with respect to the gender to which they belong: whether they feel they belong to the male, female or some other possibility, regardless of the biological sex with which they have born.
Gender identity, then, should not be confused with sexual orientation much less with sexual identity: the latter is made up of three different elements: sexual orientation (what gender you feel sexual attraction for), gender role (how you exercise your own gender) and, finally, identity gender.
The concept of gender identity emerged in the field of American psychiatry in the 20th century. In recent times it has gained much relevance, due to the growing visibility of homosexuality, sex divergence, transgender sexuality and non-binary genders.
Although the reality it designates is as old as the human being himself, this concept is relatively new. Therefore, some controversy usually accompanies it given that it encounters a lot of resistance from the most conservative sectors, which insist on the existence of only two genders: female and male, which have certain biological, physical and social characteristics.
See also: Personal identity
How is gender identity constructed?
Until now it is accepted that gender identity is built (through nurturing) or arises (naturally) in children around three years of age. In fact, in cases where a congenital condition causes sexual ambiguity in the infant (intersexuality or hermaphroditism) and the infant is raised with a gender identity different from that of his or her chromosomal sexuality, it is impossible to impose biological gender identity in stages. later.
In this way, gender identity is built during early childhood through parental example, social reinforcement and even language itself. Parents raise their children in what they consider behavior appropriate to their sex, and society subsequently takes care to reinforce these patterns.
Importance of gender identity
Gender identity is an indispensable component of sexual identity and is part of the psychological elements necessary to exercise sexuality in a full and satisfactory manner, regardless of sexual orientation.
On the other hand, understanding the concept of sexual orientation allows for greater openness when it comes to recognizing the existence of people with non-conventional gender identities, that is, trans people.
Although There is still a lot of debate about it. the contemporary trend is towards the depathologization of transgender identity. However, in some sectors, such as part of American psychiatry, it is still considered a disease.
Types of gender identity
Today four gender identities are distinguished:
- Cisgender. Those people who have a gender identity that matches the one assigned to them at birth.
- Transgender. Those people who have a gender identity different from the one assigned to them at birth, regardless of biological sex or sexual orientation.
- Transsexuals. Those transgender people who wish to (or proceed to) modify their body through hormonal or surgical methods, to make it match their gender identity as closely as possible.
- Third gender or non-binary. Those people whose gender identity does not coincide entirely with the male or female gender, or is located in some intermediate category, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Gender identity law
There is currently a debate in legal matters regarding gender identity, because numerous gender-diverse communities have carried out an important social struggle. Their objective is to normalize their situation and enjoy legislation that respects their decision to live life according to their gender identity, regardless of their sexual orientation or biological sex.
In fact, in the document entitled “Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity”, also known as the Yogyakarta Principles, the UN established in 2006 the basic standards of protection and visibility of people who make up the LGBT+ community (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and others).
Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Mexico articles were promulgated to defend genderdiverse people and Argentina's Gender Identity Law is famous, which requires that trans people be treated as individuals of the gender with which they identify.
Gender and sexuality identities
Gender identity is one of the components of sexual identity and, therefore, a component of individual sexuality, which is not necessarily related to sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, among others) or biological sex (male or female).
In that sense, it is an integral part of each person, which may or may not be reflected in gender expression which is the social and personal manifestation of gender (the way of dressing, the type of linguistic pronouns used, among other factors).
References
- “Gender identity” on Wikipedia.
- “What is gender identity?” in the Ministry of the Interior of the Government of Mexico.
- “All about Sex, Gender and Gender Identity” at Planned Parenthood.
- “Right to gender identity” in the Government of Argentina.
- “Sexual diversity and gender” at Fundación Huésped.
- “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Definitions” in Human Rights Campaign.
- “Gender identity (Sexual behavior)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
