How to Handle Being Misgendered in Public!

Dr. Z shares three strategic tips on how to handle misgendering when it happens. These three tips correspond to three different environments and scenarios that most individuals experience in various contexts. Knowing how to approach and handle misgendering becomes instrumental for everyone navigating gender expression or transition.

Starting out in gender transition—or even without going through formal transition but simply expressing authentic identity—can make misgendering excruciatingly painful. It can feel destabilizing, as if the rug has been pulled from underneath your feet. Particularly for those who have taken courageous steps and finally feel confident enough to present authentically for the first time, experiencing misgendering can be devastating.

Misgendering creates doubt, breeds confusion, and triggers a vicious cycle of questioning: Am I doing this right? Will this ever work? Will I ever be seen as my authentic self? The reality is simple: misgendering is painful, and there is nothing positive or pleasant about it.

The three approaches outlined—direct approach (for safe environments), educational approach (for workplace or collaborative settings), and indirect approach (for unsafe or hostile environments)—provide concrete strategies for different situations.

Watch to learn which approach works best for specific scenarios and how to protect yourself while maintaining dignity.