How Many Genders Are There? Gender Identity List

What Is Gender Identity?

Some people feel that their gender matches their sex assigned at birth, such as feeling like you connect with the label female or male. Unlike sex, which defines biology and sexual functioning, gender identity is a social construct that does not always coincide with one’s biological sex. Some common examples of gender identity include genderqueer, cisgender, and genderfluid.

Gender Vs. Sex

Sometimes people confuse sex and gender, and mistakenly assume that someone’s sex is also their gender, but gender is more about how we feel inside. How we express that feeling that we feel inside is a big part of our gender identity.

Gender

Rather than having anything to do with biology, gender is how we identify internally, as well as how we express it externally. Unlike sex, gender is not binary, but rather along a gender spectrum. Our gender identity often changes and adapts throughout our life as we become more self aware.

Sex

Sex is often assigned in a binary way, such as being assigned male or female at birth. However, biology shows us that this is not the case, as many people are born intersex, or with characteristics or organs that do not match the sex assigned. Assigned sex has everything to do with someone’s biological hormones and organs and external genitalia and nothing to do with how they feel inside.

History of Gender Identity

Although humans have experienced gender identity since the beginning of time, it is a relatively newer concept. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the term “gender identity” was used as a way to express one’s reflection on their gender.¹ Decades later, the American Psychological Association described gender identity as: “the person’s basic sense of being male, female, or of indeterminate sex,” showing that we did not expand our knowledge of gender in that time.²

Today we know that gender is more in depth than the otherwise binary notion, and that there are many different gender identities besides the former assumption of being only male or female.

20 Genders: Gender Identity List

Today we know there are many different genders, and that it is probably impossible to list every single gender identity as they are fluid and changing rapidly. Some gender identities have to do with how one feels inside and some are more influenced by external sources.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of twenty common gender identities:

1. Agender

Also referred to as genderless or genderfree, agender relates to the absence of gender or gender expression. Agender people deny feeling like a man or a woman. Although not all agender people identify as nonbinary, this identity is frequently considered to be under the nonbinary umbrella.

2. Cisgender

This gender refers to when someone’s gender identity coincides with the sex that they were assigned at birth, such as male or female. For example, years ago, the doctors looked at a newborn infant’s body and labeled them “male” or “female” on the birth certificate, known as the child’s biological sex. If the child continues to identify with the gender as they grow, and their gender matches their sex assigned at birth, they are cisgender.

3. Transgender

When someone’s gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth, this is referred to as trans, or transgender. Someone who is transgender can present and identify anywhere along the gender spectrum, or identify as non-binary.

For example, when “Shaun” was born, he was assigned the “female” sex on his birth certificate.. However, as he grew, he found that he did not feel feminine, and he felt more like a boy. Having the persistent feeling that your biological sex doesn’t match your gender is known as gender dysphoria.  His gender identity is male, and does not match the sex assigned on his birth certificate- therefore he is trans.

4. Agenderflux

A person who identifies with this gender identity will report feeling agender at times, but will also report being able to connect with other gender identities at times. There is no requirement for length of time that one spends feeling connected to one gender identity over another.

5. Ambigender

This gender identity refers to someone who has two specific gender identities at the same time. There is usually not any overlap or fluidity with these gender identities, as both are present simultaneously.

6. Amicagender

The amicagender identity is defined as having more fluidity than other gender identity. People who are amicagender report that they change their gender expression and identity depending on their social influences and social circle. For example, they may present more femme around certain friends, and more masculine or even androgynous around others.

7. Androgynous

The androgynous gender identity refers to a person who often feels some combination of feminine and masculine gender identities. This can be illustrated by “Sam,” who often reports that they like the parts of themself that feel and appear masculine, and they also like the parts of themself that feel and appear feminine.

8. Autigender 

Many autistic people use this term to define their gender identity. This gender identity label often describes how it feels to experience gender as an autistic individual.

9. Bigender

This gender identity is often referred to as “two genders” as it defines the act of experiencing two different genders at the same time. The bigender identity is sometimes referred to as dual gendered due to the presence of two different genders.

10. Boyflux

When a person identifies as being on the male end of the gender spectrum, but their expression and experiences vary along that end of the spectrum, they may identify as boyflux. Thus, they experience varying degrees of male identity, ranging from male, masculine, to nonbinary or agender.

11. Demifluid/ Demiflux

The experience of having multiple genders, or relating to multiple gender identities, is referred to as demifluid and sometimes demiflux. Many people who are demifluid will report that some of their gender identities are fluid, or changing, while some do not change.

12. Demigender

Someone who occasionally experiences a connection to one gender, but then other times identifies more nonbinary, is referred to as demigender.  Sometimes this person will display some gender characteristics or traits of one gender and some characteristics of another gender.

13. Domgender

The individual often feels like they identify with multiple genders. However, there will usually be one dominant gender identity.

14. Fluidflux

This is when someone’s gender fluctuates between two or more while varying in intensity. “Fluidflux can be described as being genderfluid and genderflux at the same time.” (LGBTQIA wiki)

15. Genderfluid/gender flux

Someone who is gender fluid typically falls under the umbrella of trans and/or non-binary, meaning their gender does not always align with the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender fluid often refers to a gender identity or gender expression that changes over time.

16. Genderqueer

This identity refers to someone who can not be labeled on the femme or masculine gender spectrum, or identifies as anywhere along the gender spectrum.

17. Girlflux/femmefluid

Girlflux is when someone identifies anywhere along the femme end of the gender spectrum.  Sometimes they may present or identify as very feminine, and other times they may present more “tomboy,” “softball dyke,” or anywhere along the feminine spectrum.

18. Nonbinary

The nonbinary identity is when someone does not identify as male or female. This identity relates to not identifying along the gender binary. Some nonbinary people also identify as trans but not all. For example, “Erin” is nonbinary, or “enby,” and knew from a young age that they did not feel feminine the way that their female peers felt, and also knew that they did not feel masculine or relate to the boy peers in their class.

19. Pangender

Pangender is also often referred to as omnigender. This identity refers to an individual who reports having or experiencing all genders.

20. Xenogender

This gender identity refers to someone who experiences gender in a way that can not be explained or understood by our human understanding of gender.  Some report that their gender more closely relates to that of plants, animals, and others.⁴

Why Is Gender & Gender Identity Important

Having labels to define one’s gender identity is a big part of validating all existences and experiences. Whereas before, people had to try to conform to a gender they did not feel comfortable with, we are now developing more understanding of gender identity and how it is expressed.

Gender diverse individuals, especially youth, are more likely to engage in self harming behaviors.⁵ However, despite trans and gender diverse youth being more likely to engage in these behaviors, they are also more likely to have difficulty accessing care.⁶ Thus, by increasing awareness and support of gender diverse and queer people, we provide life saving support.

Where To Get Support for Gender Identity

If you are feeling confused about your gender identity or have questions about how to come out, it can be helpful to seek the support of a licensed professional. Clinicians who are trained or have lived experience in working with gender diverse people are in the best position to help provide healthcare support and gender affirming care.⁷

Consider finding an LGBTQ+ therapist as they will have beneficial knowledge to offer and be understanding of your experiences and you will be less likely to have to educate them. If you would prefer at-home rather than in-person sessions, there are many LGBTQ+ online therapy options available, too. You can start your search using an online therapist directory.

In My Experience

Due to increasing acceptance and understanding, more and more people are coming out about their gender and sexual identity than in previous generations. Part of being a good ally is learning what ways we can be more affirming and supportive to people of gender and sexual minorities. This is true in social situations as well as healthcare settings. A provider’s knowledge and willingness to support their gender diverse clients will help increase health outcomes.²