What is the difference between gender identity and biological sex?

Sex is typically recorded at birth based on anatomy and chromosomes. Gender identity is a person's internal, deeply held sense of who they are — whether that's a man, a woman, non-binary, or something else. The two don't always match, and gender identity is not determined by biology.

What does it mean to be non-binary?

Non-binary describes anyone whose gender identity doesn't fit neatly into the categories of 'man' or 'woman'. Some non-binary people feel partly both, partly neither, or something else entirely. Non-binary is an umbrella term, so the experience varies from person to person. Many non-binary people use they/them pronouns, though not all do.

What pronouns should I use for a transgender or non-binary person?

Use whatever pronouns the person uses for themselves. If you're unsure, it's fine to ask politely — or to listen and follow their lead. Using the correct pronouns is not optional; it's a fundamental aspect of respect and inclusion. If you make a mistake, correct yourself briefly and move on without making a big deal of it.

Trans & Gender Identity: Key Terms Explained

Gender identity is a person's internal, deeply held sense of who they are — man, woman, non-binary, or something else. It is not the same as biological sex, which is recorded at birth. The two can match, or they can differ, and both are real and valid. Understanding the distinction is the foundation for everything else on this page.

Transgender

A transgender person is someone whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. A transgender woman was assigned male at birth and knows herself to be a woman. A transgender man was assigned female at birth and knows himself to be a man. Transgender is an adjective, not a noun — say "a transgender person" or "a trans woman", not "a transgender" or "a transgendered".

As Joanne puts it in her Trans 101 training: "cisgender and transgender are descriptive words. They're adjectives. They describe someone's gender identity, not a separate category of person."

Cisgender

Cisgender — often shortened to "cis" — describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. Most people are cisgender. The word exists simply to name what was previously treated as the unnamed default. Neither "cis" nor "trans" carries judgement; they are descriptive words, like "tall" or "left-handed".

Non-binary

Non-binary is an umbrella term for gender identities that sit outside the binary of man/woman. Some non-binary people experience their gender as a mix, some as fluid, some as neither. Non-binary people may or may not also identify as transgender — it depends on the individual. Many use they/them pronouns, though some use other pronouns or a combination.

Gender identity vs biological sex

Biological sex typically refers to the combination of chromosomes, hormones and anatomy recorded at birth — and even this is more varied than the simple male/female split suggests (intersex conditions are more common than many people realise). Gender identity is distinct: it is a person's inner sense of self, which may or may not align with the sex recorded at birth. One sits in the body; the other in the person.

Gender expression

Gender expression is how someone outwardly presents their gender — through clothing, hairstyle, voice, mannerisms and so on. It is not the same as gender identity. A person's expression may be conventionally masculine, conventionally feminine, androgynous or something else, and this does not tell you their gender identity. Avoid making assumptions about how someone identifies based on how they look.

The trans umbrella

"Trans" is used as an umbrella term to include everyone who identifies across or beyond the gender they were assigned at birth. Under this umbrella you will find trans women, trans men, non-binary people, gender-fluid people, genderqueer people, and others. As Joanne explains in her training: "trans is an umbrella term to include those who identify across the gender spectrum." Each person under it has their own story; no single experience speaks for all.

Other terms you'll encounter

Gender-fluid. A person whose gender identity shifts or moves over time rather than remaining fixed.
Genderqueer. An identity that challenges conventional notions of gender — often used by people who feel outside or between the binary.
Intersex. A person born with sex characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, anatomy) that don't fit typical definitions of male or female. Intersex is a biological variation, distinct from gender identity.
Questioning. Someone exploring or working out their gender identity or sexual orientation. There is no deadline — questioning is a valid place to be.
Agender. A person who does not identify with any gender, or who experiences themselves as without gender.
Transition. The process of aligning one's lived experience with one's gender identity. This may include social changes (name, pronouns, clothing), legal changes (documents), and/or medical steps — but it is always personal. There is no single way to transition, and no requirement to transition in any particular way.

Pronouns

Pronouns are how we refer to people when we are not using their name: she/her, he/him, they/them, and others. Using the correct pronouns is not optional — as Joanne says, it is "a fundamental aspect of respect and inclusion." Avoid the phrase "preferred pronouns"; they are not preferred, they are simply a person's pronouns. If you are unsure, ask — and normalise sharing your own pronouns so that the question feels unremarkable for everyone.

Misgendering — using the wrong pronouns or name — causes real distress. If you make a mistake, correct yourself briefly and move on. You do not need to over-apologise; just get it right next time.

A note on language and judgement

Language in this space is evolving, and some terms mean different things to different people. When in doubt, take Joanne's approach: "we need to be respectfully curious to make sure we understand who someone is and how they identify." Ask with genuine interest, listen, and follow the person's lead. Passing judgement — about whether someone "looks" trans, or whether their identity is "real" — reveals our own assumptions, not anything about them.

Take it further

Read the guide on supporting a colleague who is transitioning, explore the allyship guide, or browse all guides. Hear these topics explored in depth on the Inclusion Bites podcast. To book Joanne for a keynote or workshop on trans and LGBTQIA+ inclusion, visit the LGBTQIA+ inclusion topic page.

Trans & gender identity: key terms explained