The Difference Between Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Gender Role.
Dr. Z breaks down the differences between gender identity, gender expression, and gender role—and how the three tango together. Understanding this is critical because younger adults especially confuse all three, leading to unnecessary questioning and rumination. The biggest misinformation: if you're gender bending, that means you're transgender.
Gender identity is your subjective core sense of self—how you see yourself internally in relationship to gender. Formed through biology, psychology, social environment, and experiences. Can be fixed and stable, or mutable and fluid throughout life.
Gender expression is how you like to express yourself internally and externally to the world. This can be completely aligned with your gender identity OR in complete disalignment—and that's the key. You can be transmasculine with feminine expression. You can be a woman with nonbinary expression.
Gender role are stereotypical behaviors and attitudes based on social gender norms. Also doesn't have to align with your core identity.
All three can exist independently: a man with nonbinary expression and feminine gender role, perfectly comfortable with no dysphoria. Don't restrict yourself to boxes—play outside the lines.
Watch to find out why you shouldn't give up Metallica or motorcycles just because you're a trans woman.
