Refers to two concepts or constructs that are seen as opposed and mutually exclusive. Among transgender communities, the term may refer to the gender binary (see: biological essentialism) or a transgender person who transitions from one binary gender to the other. Hunter is a binary transgender man: although assigned female at birth, he identifies exclusively as male.
The notion that men and women are naturally and categorically different from one another due to chromosomal, anatomical, endocrinological, and/or neurological variations related to birth assignment. Biological essentialism reinforces the idea that only two sexes and genders exist, defined by a person’s primary and secondary sex characteristics rather than their internal, personal experience of gender (see: gender binary, neurosexism).
A system of prejudicial beliefs that seek to undermine, erase, and/or invalidate non-binary people, sometimes with the assumption that they need to “pick” a binary gender, are following a fad, or are confused about the nature of their true gender. Karen was binarist when she refused to respect her non-binary co-worker’s gender-neutral pronouns, rudely telling them to “choose one or the other.”
See Assigned Gender.
Refers to the legally denoted gender assigned to newborn children based on external primary sex characteristics. In modern-day Western culture, a person’s assigned sex is typically conflated with their gender identity, which consequently defines a person’s gender role and its associated expectations. Assigned gender is based on the appearance of a person’s genitals and is not related to—or a reflection of—one’s gender identity or internal sense of gender.
An individual who does not experience sexual feelings or desires (not to be confused with celibacy, in which a person experiences sexual attraction but purposefully declines to act on these desires). People who are asexual may feel romantic attraction toward others but may not have any interest in, or desire for, sexual intimacy. Jason considered himself asexual. Although he occasionally had sex with his partners, he didn’t require sexual intimacy in order to feel fulfilled.
A medication that inhibits the effects of endogenous androgens (such as testosterone) on the body by either blocking androgen receptors and/or suppressing androgen production. Spironolactone is an example of a medication with anti-androgenic properties—it is occasionally prescribed to some transgender people who undergo hormone replacement therapy.
A person who generally does not experience intimate amorous or passionate feelings for others and may not be interested in pursuing romantic relationships. Note, however, that aromantic people are perfectly capable of experiencing platonic and familial love, as well as enjoying sexual intimacy. Interestingly, the term “aromantic” did not become associated with its present-day meaning until the 1980s or 1990s, when early Internet surfers began using it to describe a lack of desire for romantic relationships.
