What is the Difference Between Assigned Sex and Gender Identity?
Question
What is the difference between assigned sex and gender identity?
Answer
Assigned sex refers to the classification of a person as male or female at birth based on physical characteristics, typically external genitalia, observed by medical professionals. This classification is recorded on legal documents such as a birth certificate and traditionally operates within a binary framework, although some jurisdictions now allow more flexibility, such as an "X" marker.
In contrast, gender identity encompasses a person’s deeply felt sense of their own gender, which may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender identity develops over time and can include considerations of how a person experiences their body, emotions, and social role, which are influenced by a combination of biological, cultural, and individual factors. For instance, a person whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth is referred to as cisgender.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Special Considerations When Working with LGBTQ+ Identified People, presented by Valerie Velarde, PsyD
Valerie Velarde
PsyD
Related Courses
Talking to Kids About Sex: Trauma-Informed, Inclusive, and Ethical Sex Education for Youth
This intermediate course provides therapists with foundational knowledge and skills for opening up conversations about sex with children and adolescents. The course outlines sexual development in children and adolescents, discusses fundamentals of effective sex education with youth, and describes methods for ensuring that sex education is both trauma-informed and LGBT-inclusive. Ethical considerations and guidelines for clinical practice are discussed.Culturally Competent Sexual Health Assessment: Best Practices and Ethical Guidelines
This course provides mental health providers with guidelines and ethical considerations for confidently addressing sexual health assessments and counseling patients on safe sexual practices. It covers the 7 P's of sexual health assessment, cultural competency for diverse populations, and practical strategies for promoting sexual health practices and managing sexually transmitted infections.Conducting Gender-Affirming Hormone Evaluations for Adults Using the Informed Consent Model
Gender-affirming care including hormones and surgery are evidence-based treatments that reduce gender dysphoria in transgender and gender non-conforming people, but many face barriers accessing this care. Clinicians need training on appropriately diagnosing gender dysphoria, assessing readiness for hormones per WPATH guidelines, and managing comorbid psychiatric conditions. This course provides comprehensive information and practice guidelines for providing gender-affirming hormone therapy to transgender adults.