Gender identity is something many people still misunderstand. Often, people assume biological sex, sex assigned at birth, gender, and gender identity are all the same thing, but they are very different. Gender identity is not something that can be seen on a scan or measured in a laboratory. It is a deeply personal internal sense of who we are and how we experience ourselves.
Across history and across cultures, many societies have recognised that gender is far more diverse and complex than rigid binary ideas suggest. Long before modern Western debates around gender identity, cultures around the world already understood that human identity does not always fit neatly into categories of “male” and “female.”
For many LGBTQ+ people, rigid gender expectations can create shame, confusion, fear of rejection, or pressure to hide parts of themselves in order to feel accepted or safe. Challenging those expectations can become an important part of healing, authenticity, and self acceptance.
In this video, I explore the differences between gender identity and gender expression, the impact of gender norms, and how cultures such as India’s Hijra community and Indigenous Two Spirit traditions have long recognised broader understandings of gender.
If any of this resonates with you and you’d like support exploring it further, I offer LGBTQ+ affirming therapy both online and in person from my practice in Manchester city centre. You’re welcome to get in touch to arrange a free 15 minute introductory call.