• 3 min read

Being Trans: Identity, Transition, and Related Experiences

Transgender

Transgender, or trans, is a word for people whose gender identity does not match the sex they were given at birth. At birth, doctors usually decide if a baby is male or female based on their body. This is written on the birth certificate. But how someone feels about their own gender may be different from what was assigned to them. Gender identity is how someone knows themselves deep inside. It often becomes clear at a young age.

Some trans people feel distress when their body or how others see them does not match who they are. This is called gender dysphoria. Others feel happy and at peace when they can express their gender. This is called gender euphoria.

Trans people might change their name, pronouns, clothes, or appearance. This is called transition. Some use hormones or have surgery. Others do not. There is no single way to be trans. Every trans person is valid.

  • Transfeminine: A person who is not cisgender and whose gender is mostly feminine. They might identify as a woman or with femininity in other ways.

  • Transmasculine: A person who is not cisgender and whose gender is mostly masculine. They might identify as a man or with masculinity in other ways.

  • Non-binary: A person who does not see themselves only as male or female. Some non-binary people are also trans. Others are not. They might feel partly like a man, partly like a woman, both, or neither.

  • Intersex: A person born with physical traits that do not fit typical male or female categories. This can include hormones, chromosomes, or anatomy. Being intersex is about the body, not identity. Some intersex people are also trans. Some are not.

Other Important Ideas

  • Gender Identity: How someone feels and knows their own gender. It may match or not match what they were assigned at birth.

  • Transition: Steps someone takes to live as the gender they know themselves to be. This can include clothes, name, hormones, surgery, or legal documents. Some trans people transition. Some do not.

  • Gender Dysphoria: The discomfort some people feel when their body or gender role does not match who they are. Not all trans people have this feeling.

  • Transmedicalism: The belief that someone must have dysphoria to be trans. Many people reject this idea. Trans people do not need to feel pain to be real.

Pronouns and Respect

Using the right name and pronouns for someone is a basic way to show respect. You do not need to understand everything about gender to use the words someone asks you to use. If you make a mistake, correct yourself and move on. Everyone deserves to be seen and treated with dignity.

Not all trans people change their names or pronouns, and that is fine. There is no single way to be trans. Listen to what people tell you about themselves and take them at their word.

Safety and Support

Trans people face high rates of violence, discrimination, and poverty. These problems are not because they are trans, but because of how society treats them. Support from friends, family, and community can make a big difference. So can access to safe housing, health care, and legal protections.

If you are trans, know that you are not alone. There are people and groups who will stand with you and fight for your right to live freely. You deserve safety, joy, and care.