Sex refers to a set of biological attributes in humans and animals. It encompasses physical and physiological features such as chromosomes, gene expression, hormone levels and function, and reproductive/sexual anatomy. While sex is commonly categorized as female or male, there is variation in the biological attributes that define sex and how they are expressed.

Gender, on the other hand, refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities of individuals. It influences how people perceive themselves and others, their actions and interactions, and the distribution of power and resources in society. Gender is not limited to a binary (girl/woman, boy/man) and is not fixed; it exists along a continuum and can evolve over time. There is significant diversity in how individuals and groups understand, experience, and express gender through the roles they assume, the expectations placed on them, their relationships with others, and the institutionalization of gender in society.

Here are some examples of different gender identities:

Agender: A person who identifies as agender does not align with any particular gender or may have no gender at all. Other terms for this identity include neutral gender, null-gender, genderless, or neutrois.

Androgyne: An androgyne identifies with a gender that is either a combination of both masculine and feminine or falls between the two.

Bigender: Individuals who identify as bigender experience two distinct genders. They may embody cultural roles associated with both masculinity and femininity.

Butch: This term is often used by women, especially lesbians, to describe their expression of masculinity or non-conformity to societal expectations. However, it can also be a gender identity in itself.

Cisgender: Cisgender individuals identify with the sex assigned to them at birth. For example, a cisgender woman aligns with the female sex assigned at birth.

Gender expansive: This term encompasses individuals who broaden societal definitions of gender, including expressions, identities, roles, and norms. It includes transgender individuals and those who challenge conventional notions of gender.

Genderfluid: Those who identify as genderfluid experience a fluctuation in their gender identity and presentation, which may shift between or exist outside of society’s expectations.

Genderqueer: Genderqueer individuals have a gender identity or expression that deviates from societal expectations tied to their assigned sex or assumed gender. It can include individuals who identify outside the gender binary or embrace a combination of genders.

Nonbinary: Nonbinary individuals do not exclusively identify within the gender binary. They may experience a blend of different gender expressions, including being gender non-conforming.

Two-Spirit: This is a term originating from Indigenous Native American communities that encompasses various sexualities and genders. It recognizes the presence of multiple genders within these cultural contexts.

Transgender: Transgender is an umbrella term encompassing individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This includes not only trans men and trans women but also nonbinary and genderfluid individuals.

Trans: Trans is a more inclusive term that includes nonbinary and genderless individuals, in addition to those who identify as transgender.