If you're transgender, myths about gender identity can get in the way of feeling understood and safe. False ideas can get into your mind and affect how you think about yourself.
If you're not trans, you might hold mistaken beliefs about gender identity and trans people even if you want to be supportive. Understanding myths is one step toward letting go of biases and learning how best to support trans people.
Mayo Clinic experts shed light on some of the common myths about gender identity.
First, some definitions
Here are a few terms that are commonly used when talking about gender identity:
- Sex assigned at birth is the label given to a baby based on the baby's genitalia. For example, a baby born with a vagina is assigned female sex.
- Gender identity is your internal sense of who you are — male, female or others.
- Transgender, also known as trans, is a term for people who don't identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.
- Nonbinary describes someone who doesn't identify as male or female.
- Transitioning is the period of time when people start to live according to their gender identity instead of living as the sex they were assigned at birth. Transitioning may involve new clothing and hairstyles, changing names and pronouns, and seeking medical treatments.
The big myth: Anatomy defines your gender
Gender is your internal sense of who you are. It isn't based on your body parts. Women who have hysterectomies, for example, aren't considered less womanly after the procedure.
For many people, gender identity lines up with the sex they were assigned at birth based on their body parts. For trans and nonbinary people, gender identity doesn't line up with the sex assigned at birth.
Myth: All trans people want to be seen as the 'opposite' gender
Not all trans people identify as male or female. For some people, gender might be somewhere in between or outside of those terms. Or it may change over time. People might use other words to describe their gender, like nonbinary, agender or genderqueer.
The term "passing" means being seen by others as a person who isn't transgender. Even for trans people who identify as male or female, being seen by others as a person who is not trans isn't always the goal. And not all trans people choose to have surgery or hormone treatments.
Myth: Your gender identity is connected to your sexuality
Sexual orientation is about who you're attracted to. Gender identity is about who you are. The two things are separate from each other.
That means a person who is trans might be attracted to men, women or people of any gender.
Myth: All trans people know their gender identity from a young age
People can start expressing their gender identity at any age. Some people may know from an early age that their gender doesn't align with their sex assigned at birth.
For other people, feelings about gender don't come to the surface until later in life. Some people may not feel safe to explore gender on their own terms until well into adulthood.
How old you are when you explore your gender doesn't have any bearing on how valid your identity is.
Myth: Counseling can 'fix' a transgender person's gender identity
Being trans is not a mental illness or something that needs to be fixed. Therapy that aims to change a person's gender identity is known as conversion therapy. Research has shown that conversion therapy not only doesn't work but also harms mental health.
Trans people who have been exposed to conversion therapy are at a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Because of this, some states have made it illegal for a licensed therapist to try to change a person's gender identity.
However, having a trusted therapist or other mental health professional can be helpful for trans people. Therapy can help people deal with issues like discrimination or distress caused by the disconnect between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth.
Myth: Transgender health care is optional or special care
Not every trans person needs or wants to go through a medical transition. But for many, transition-related care like surgery and hormone treatments is a medical necessity. Not having access to transition-related care can take a huge toll on mental health and raise the risk of suicide.
Because of these risks, it's illegal for private insurance companies to deny coverage to trans people seeking medically necessary transition-related healthcare.
The American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others, have called on healthcare professionals to:
- Understand that gender isn't defined by body parts or what society expects.
- Provide care that affirms people's identities instead of trying to change them.
Truth: Gender diversity is something to celebrate
Greater visibility and acceptance of trans and nonbinary people means that more people can express their gender in a way that makes them feel good.
Many people who have gone through a gender transition say that the process has helped them be their true selves. Going through the process of understanding your gender identity can lead to greater self-compassion and self-acceptance.