www.genderspecLrum.org 310-788-4412 lnfo[genderspecLrum.

org


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uenuei is about thiee things:
1. oui bouies (!"#$"% '()*)!+)
2. how we uiess anu act (!"#$"% ",-%"..()#), anu
S. how we feel insiue (!"#$"% ($"#/(/+).


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When a baby is boin, they aie assigneu a sex baseu on theii bouies (usually baseu on theii piivate
paits). This calleu youi 0..(!#"$ .",. This is what goes on youi biith ceitificate. Nany people
think that someone's !""#$%&' "&) anu $&%'&* aie always the same. Sometimes they aie the same,
but not all the time!
Foi most people, it is veiy cleai what kinu of bouy someone has, but sometimes it is not quite as
cleai. Some people aie boin with bouies that have uiffeient combinations insiue oi outsiue. The
teim foi this is "inteisex," which means "between the sexes." Being inteisex is not common, but it
is a natuial foim of vaiiation; it shows us that people come in lots of shapes anu sizes! Theie aie
not just "boy bouies" oi "giil bouies."

()*+), 345,)''&/*
1"#$"% ",-%"..()# is the way we show oui genuei to the woilu. It can also be how the woilu
thinks we shoulu act because of oui genuei (like boys shoulun't ciy oi giils aie always soft anu
gentle).
When you walk into a ioom, you often look at what people aie weaiing, at theii haii, oi at othei
things about them to ueciue who is a boy oi who is a giil. In oui cultuie, ceitain clothes anu
haiistyles aie moie common foi one genuei oi the othei. What is impoitant to iemembei is that
being moie common uoes not make it "the only way" oi "the iight way."
While it may be moie common foi giils to weai oi like oi uo some things, it is not because they
aie giils. These aie just things they like. If a giil uoes oi likes oi weais something that boys moie
commonly uo oi like oi weai, uoes that make the giil suuuenly a boy. 0f couise not! The same is
tiue foi boys who uo things that giils moie commonly uo oi like oi weai. In fact, theie aie no
"boy" things oi "giil" things: toys aie toys, haii is haii, colois aie colois, anu clothes aie clothes.
The way we show oui genuei is all about what makes us feel comfoitable anu goou. These can
often change, anu can be uiffeient fiom cultuie to cultuie.




()*+), 6+)*%&%2
Anothei pait of oui genuei is the way we feel on the insiue, in oui heaits anu minus. This is calleu
!"#$"% ($"#/(/+.
Nost people have a genuei iuentity that is the same as what the uoctois saiu you weie in the
hospital (youi !""#$%&' "&)).
Sometimes, people feel uiffeiently on the insiue than theii assigneu sex. While eveiyone aiounu
them thinks anu says they aie one thing, they feel like something else. Peihaps they feel a little bit
like a boy ANB a giil. Naybe they feel like a boy even though eveiyone else thinks they aie a giil.
People can be boys, giils, both, neithei oi feel uiffeiently at uiffeient times.
Bow people feel on the insiue about theii genuei is veiy peisonal. Some people like to shaie how
they feel, but otheis uon't. It's best not to talk oi ask about someone's genuei unless they biing it
up themselves. No one likes to be pointeu out by othei people. Boes it feel goou when you think
someone is talking about you. Bow uo you think you woulu feel if people weie always asking you
about youi own genuei.
Youi genuei is not about what otheis tell you, but something you ueteimine foi youiself. No one
gets to tell anothei peison how they feel on the insiue.

7/8 9#)') 9#,)) :$,%' /; ()*+), <&% 9/1)%#),
Foi many people these thiee paits "line up," that is, theii bouy, how they piesent genuei, anu how
they feel all aie the same.
Sometimes people may have one kinu of bouy, but like lots of uiffeient things. But they still feel
like the sex they weie assigneu when they weie boin. In oui cultuie, an example of this might be
giil who likes spoits anu tiucks oi a boy who likes pink anu uolls.
Sometimes, someone might be assigneu one sex when they aie boin, but feel on the insiue that
they aie the othei genuei. The teim that is sometimes useu foi this is /%0#.!"#$"%=
0f couise, pietty much any combination is possible. This is all veiy complex anu it is a lot moie
inteiesting to have so much vaiiety! It can ieally be confusing because we aie taught that theie
aie only two possibilitiesboy oi giil. In fact, the possibilities aie enuless.

()*+), &' >&;;),)*% %#$* ?)4@$0 A,&)*%$%&/*
A lot of people confuse genuei anu sexual oiientation, but they aie uiffeient.
Sexual oiientation is about who you aie attiacteu to (i.e. whethei you aie heteiosexual, gay,
lesbian, bisexual, etc.).
uenuei is about who you 0%".

2) 3)#4/ 5)%!"/6
uenuei is about a lot moie than just oui bouies. It also incluues the way we expiess ouiselves anu
how we feel in oui heaits anu oui minus.
Theie aie lots of uiffeient genueis.
uenuei anu Sexual oiientation aie uiffeient.
No one can tell anothei peison how to feel on the insiue. Each of us ueciues foi ouiselves.

No one can tell anothei peison how to feel on the insiue. Each of us ueciues foi ouiselves. No mattei
what messages you get fiom othei people aiounu you, you know who you aie, oi aie the peison who
gets to figuie it out!




www.genderspecLrum.org 310-788-4412 lnfo[genderspecLrum.org

!"##$%& !( )*%+*,

use Lhe llnes below Lo map your own gender. 1hen answer Lhe quesLlons on Lhe back. ?ou can Lhen fold
your paper ln half lf you wlsh Lo keep your own proflle prlvaLe.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(fold here)
!"##$%& !( )*%+*,

1. Was mapplng your own gender dlfflculL or easy? WhaL made lL so?



2. WhaL are some ways LhaL Lhls model helps us Lo undersLand gender beLLer?



3. WhaL are some of Lhe ways LhaL Lhls model ls sLlll noL enough Lo really undersLand gender?



4. Pas your gender proflle changed over Llme? ln whaL ways?



3. WhaL ls your comforL level wlLh your own gender? WhaL abouL Lhe gender of oLhers?




6. WhaL does Lhe Cender SpecLrum" mean Lo you?