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The world may not be perfect, but it has come a long way. Scrolling through the internet, we’re sure you have come across people posting about “SOGIE” or “gender identity” which were never even uttered in the past. SOGIE is just as important as our nationality in building our identity. It may be unfamiliar at first, but don’t worry! Here are a few terms we all need to know as we further understand other people’s and our own identities.
1. Sex
Starting from the basics, we have encountered this word in documents and forms we need to fill up as our basic information. It is basically the biological and physical attributes such as chromosomes. At birth, our physiological characteristics determine whether we are female, male, or intersex.
2. SOGIE
This is an acronym for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression. It encompasses everything about sexuality.
3. Sexual Orientation
This term refers to who you are and the kind of people you are attracted to.
4. Gender Identity
Unlike sex, gender identity refers to the social and behavioral attributes of people. It is what you believe as who you are, regardless of the sex assigned to you at birth. A smart tip: never assume people’s gender based on their appearance. You can never tell just by looking at them. Curious about someone’s gender identity? Just ask them in a polite manner!
5. Gender Expression
This is how we present ourselves to the world. It is how we dress, how we style our hair, how we speak, or how we choose an accessory to wear for the day. In short, it is how we express ourselves to other people.
6. Heterosexual
This is under our sexual orientation and it refers to people we call “straight.” They are attracted to people of the opposite sex.
7. Lesbian
The first letter of the LGBTQ+, these are women who are attracted to other women. It is also one of the different types of sexual orientations.
8. Gay
Also under sexual orientation, these are men who are attracted to other men as well. This term is also used by some as a general or umbrella term for people who are attracted to other people of the same sex.
9. Bisexual
If one’s sexual orientation is bisexual, it means they are attracted to both men and women. It may also be used to refer to people who are attracted to more than one gender.
10. Transgender
This is a gender identity that refers to people whose gender identity and expression are different from the societal norms that are expected from the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person was a male at birth, but her gender identity is a woman. Transgender people may be heterosexual, gay, bisexual, or any other sexual orientation they believe and see themselves as.
11. Asexual
This is another term under sexual orientation that refers to people who are not attracted to or have never experienced being sexually attracted to other people.
12. Pansexual
Sex or gender does not matter for people who are pansexuals. Their attraction is not limited to a person’s sex or gender identity.
13. Queer
This is an umbrella term used to refer to people who are not heterosexual or “straight.” It is also used to describe a person that is not compliant with society’s norms regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
From The Candy Bulletin Community
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