Gender
Defining Gender
Broadly, gender is a set of socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate (PFLAG, 2023).
The following video, by Microsoft, explores the topics of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
Microsoft. (2023). Introduction to gender and sexual orientation. Inclusion Journey - Learn and Reflect. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/inclusion-journey/learn
Gender Identity
This is who you, in your head, know yourself to be, based on how much you align (or don’t align) with what you understand to be the options for gender. Your sense of being a woman, a man, somewhere in between, both or neither.
A person’s deeply held core sense of self in relation to gender (see Gender). Gender identity does not always correspond to biological sex. People become aware of their gender identity at many different stages of life (PFLAG, 2023).
Gender Expression
How gender expression is interpreted by others is based on gender norms (social attitudes and expectations for acceptable behaviour for men, women and gender-diverse people). For example, assigning masculinity and femininity to occupations, clothing, and activities is an example of gender norms in society. Names and pronouns are common examples of gender expression.
The manner in which a person communicates about gender to others through external means such as clothing, appearance, or mannerisms. This communication may be conscious or subconscious and may or may not reflect their gender identity or sexual orientation. While most people’s understandings of gender expressions relate to masculinity and femininity, there are countless combinations that may incorporate both masculine and feminine expressions, or neither, through androgynous expressions. All people have gender expressions, and an individual’s gender expression does not automatically imply one’s gender identity (PFLAG, 2023).
Gender Relations
Encompass how gender shapes social interactions in families, schools, workplaces and public settings, for instance the power relation between a man patient and woman physician.
(Schiebinger, L., Klinge, I., Sánchez de Madariaga, I., Paik, H. Y., Schraudner, M., & Stefanick, M. (Eds.), 2011-2021).
Gender Equity
Gender equity is about removing barriers that stop people from reaching their full potential. Too often, women and gender diverse people experience unfairness. This is especially true when they also struggle with injustices like poverty, racism, ableism, transphobia and/or homophobia (Government of B.C.).
Additional terms and resources
Expand Your Understanding Through Western EDI’s Comprehensive Module:
Sources:
PFLAG. (2023). LGBTQ+ Glossary. Retrieved from https://pflag.org/glossary/
Government of British Columbia. (n.d.). Gender Equity in B.C. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/gender-equity
Killermann, S. (2018, October). It's Pronounced Metrosexual. Breaking through the Binary: Gender Explained Using Continuums. Retrieved from https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2018/10/the-genderbread-person-v4/
Nonomura, R., Lalonde, D., & Baker, L. (February, 2020). Gender Equity. Learning Network Issue 30. London, Ontario: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children. ISBN # 978-1-988412-35-1 https://gbvlearningnetwork.ca/our-work/issuebased_newsletters/issue-30/index.html
Status of Women Canada. (2004) Terminology: An integrated approach to gender-based analysis. Retrieved from http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/SW21-124-2004E-2.pdf
Government of Canada (2017) Policy on gender equality. Retrieved from https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/funding-financement/policy-politique.aspx?lang=eng
Ontario Human Rights Commission. (n.d.). Appendix B: Glossary for Understanding Gender Identity and Expression. Retrieved from https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-discrimination-because-gender-identity-and-gender-expression/appendix-b-glossary-understanding-gender-identity-and-expression
Rainbow Health Ontario. (2022). Glossary. Retrieved from https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/news-publications/glossary/
Egale Canada. (2020). THE GENDERBREAD PERSON. ENG-Genderbread-Person_NEW [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://egale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ENG-Genderbread-Person_NEW.pdf
