Resources
-
Microaggression
A brief, subtle statement, action, or behavior that reflects and reinforces prejudicial, insulting, and dehumanizing ideas regarding marginalized groups of people. The question “have you lost weight?” may be considered a microaggression, as it implies that the speaker believes the person they’re addressing was formerly overweight.
-
Misgendering
Deliberately or unintentionally addressing someone, typically a transgender or non-binary person, with pronouns, phrases, names, or references that do not align with the person’s gender identity. Purposeful misgendering is considered degrading and transphobic and may threaten a transgender person’s safety. Zoe dreaded visiting their extended family members, who often misgendered them by calling them by…
-
Monosexual
A person who experiences sexual attraction only to people of a specific gender (Serano, 2018). Cali is monosexual—they are strictly sexually attracted to men. Serano, Julia. “Julia’s Trans, Gender, Sexuality and Activism Glossary.” Juliaserano.com, 2019.
-
Multigender
A person who identifies as more than one binary and/or non-binary gender (Wilson, 2014). Wilson, Jessica E. “Gender Terminology Definitions 2014.” Slideshare, 9 March 2015, www.slideshare.net/JessicaEWilson/gender-terminology-definitions-2014
-
Mx.
A gender-neutral honorific analogous to Ms. or Mr. (Wilson, 2014). Pronounced like “mix.” Wilson, Jessica E. “Gender Terminology Definitions 2014.” Slideshare, 9 March 2015, www.slideshare.net/JessicaEWilson/gender-terminology-definitions-2014
-
Neurosexism
The misuse of neuroscientific facts to support the notion that women and men are “categorically different by virtue of brain anatomy and neurological functioning” (Dussauge and Kaiser, 2012). Common examples include the traditionalist assertion that cisgender men are neurologically predisposed to have superior spatial reasoning to cisgender women, or that cisgender women are naturally inclined…
-
Non-binary
An umbrella term used to describe someone whose gender identity falls outside of the traditional Western binary; a gender identity that cannot be classified as exclusively male or female. Synonyms: Nonbinary, NB, Enby. Payton is non-binary—their gender identity fluctuates between male and female, and sometimes they feel they don’t have a gender identity at all.
-
Oophorectomy
Surgical removal of the ovaries.