This project recognises that terminology can have a significant impact on a person’s identity, well-being and inherent dignity. The use of inclusive terminology respects individuality and enables visibility of important issues. In order to facilitate a discussion around this topic, it is important to have a broad understanding of the relevant terminology. Some of the terminology used in this paper is explained below (extracted from Outsport kit 2019):
Bisexual
an umbrella term describing those who are emotionally, physically, and/or
sexually attracted to people of more than one gender.
Cisgender
term describing those whose gender identity exclusively matches the sex
they were assigned at birth.
Gender
the set of “socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that
a given society considers appropriate for women and men” (Istanbul Convention,
2011). Despite the fact that these are most often based on sex assigned at birth, what is
considered “appropriate” for women and men had continuously been evolving
throughout history in the different social contexts. These roles and characteristics can
form oppressive and restricting social expectations and stereotypes.
Gender expression
an individual’s manifestation of their gender identity. Typically,
people seek to make their gender expression or presentation match their gender
identity/identities, irrespective of the sex that they were assigned at birth. This can be
done through clothing, hairstyling, or other aspects of conveying an aesthetic, and
may be more gender-nonconforming, masculine, feminine, or variable.
Gender identity
each person’s deeply felt, internal sense of gender, which may or may
not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Gender identity is a matter of personal
self-determination. It includes a range of malleable masculine, feminine, transgender
and non-binary identities.
Intersex
a term describing those whose sex characteristics are not what is typically
considered male or female. Some people with intersex characteristics identify as
intersex; others identify as men, women, and/or non-binary and some may identify as
intersex in addition to any of the above terms. Historically, many intersex infants have
been subject to non-consensual and unnecessary medical interventions in order to
attempt to make their bodies conform with their assigned sex. However, intersex
activists have called for an end to this practice and for the rights of intersex people to
their own self-determination.
LGBTI
an acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex.
The acronym can be written with a different sequence of the letters (GLBTI) and
specific combinations can depend on specific mandates, varying by
organisation/initiative/campaign. For example, the acronym sometimes includes A
(Asexual), Q (Queer), or more to reflect further characters of sexual orientations and
gender identities. A plus sign (+) is also sometimes added to the end of the acronym
(LGBTI+) to reflect the full range of identities that are marginalised by
heteronormativity, cisnormativity and interphobia.
Non-binary
an identity and umbrella term that describes those who feel that their
gender identity does not fit with the complementary, oppositional and binary views
of genders as either masculine or feminine. This term falls under both the trans and
intersex umbrellas, however there are some people who identify as non-binary but
not as trans or intersex. Further expressions to denote those who don’t identify as
either men nor women are “gender non-conforming” and “gender variant”.
Sex
a term describing a set of physiological characteristics that are used to assign
people into categories of male and female.
Sexual orientation
a term describing the emotional, romantic and sexual attraction
someone can feel towards others.
Trans/transgender
a transgender person is someone whose gender identity is
different to or does not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth. This
term encompasses people who identify as transsexual and non-binary. “Transsexual”
is term that has largely fallen out of use, usually referring to someone who has
undergone gender affirming surgery. The term is however still used by some trans
people.