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What is Gender Identity?

Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW

August 31, 2020

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Question

What is gender identity? 

Answer

The gender identity of a person refers to their internal sense of being male or female, or somewhere in between. This has nothing to do with who a person is attracted to, or who they might date or have sex with, this is specifically about the individual. 

For most people, their gender identity corresponds with their biological sex, which means that they are born biologically female. For example, they have a vulva and vagina, they are chromosomally female, they also identify as female. The reverse can also be true, a person who is born with a penis, who has male chromosomes, who also identifies as male. 

But this is not always the way that works, often the struggle is that if a person is born with a gender identity that corresponds to their biological sex, it can be really hard to imagine what it would be like for someone who doesn't. It's one of those things that's so ingrained in us, sort of like we already know how to breathe, that it's hard for us to imagine what it would be like if somebody had to be consciously taking breaths or consciously blinking. When we can't wrap our brain so easily around something, sometimes it can lead us to either assume something doesn't exist, or that nobody has to deal with things differently, or that they're just not doing that thing right, or it would be as easy for them as it is for us. 

 

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, A Social Worker's Introduction to Gender Minorities, presented by Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW. 


kryss shane

Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW

Named by The New York Times and many national and international platforms as America's go-to Leading LGBT+ Expert, Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW (she/her) has 25+ years of experience guiding the world's top leaders in business, education, and community via individual, small group, and full-staff trainings. She is known for making each organization's specific Diversity and Inclusion needs become more manageable, approachable, and actionable. This includes physical spaces, hiring practices, policies/procedures, and more. Kryss has two Master’s
degrees, two licenses to practice mental healthcare, and she is currently working toward her PhD while shaping the minds of learners as a Lecturer at Columbia University and an Adjunct Professor at Brandman University. She is also the author of "The Educator's Guide to LGBT+ Inclusion," the first book of its kind to guide educators, administrators, and school staff to become able and empowered to make their schools more LGBT++ inclusive.

Learn more about Kryss Shane at her website: https://www.thisiskryss.com

 


Related Courses

Inclusion Within the School System: Social Workers Call to Action
Presented by Kryss Shane, PhD, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Video

Presenter

Kryss Shane, PhD, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Course: #1313Level: Advanced1 Hour
  'I appreciate the range of topics related to inclusivity for children in school today'   Read Reviews
This webinar is an interactive discussion with LGBTQ+ subject matter expert, Dr. Kryss Shane. This webinar explores how social workers in school settings can create safe places, dismantle policies and procedures that do not promote inclusivity, and develop a sustainable plan to manage gender based bullying. In addition, this webinar will explore assessment tools and social workers' roles in facilitating and sustaining an inclusive school environment.

Clients and Their Gender Identities: Working with Transgender Clients Part I
Presented by Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Video

Presenter

Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Course: #1072Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'Her attitude and how she made clear references to terms in layman'   Read Reviews
Every social worker will encounter clients who identify as transgender or as another gender minority. This introductory course offers foundational knowledge and terminology related to this population. In addition, this course explores the role of the social worker in supporting transgender clients through the identity process and working respectfully and effectively with this population.

A Social Worker’s Introduction to Gender Minority Youth and Disordered Eating
Presented by Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Video

Presenter

Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Course: #1086Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'Thanks for touching on a topic that is relevant and important!'   Read Reviews
Every social worker will encounter clients who identify as transgender or as another gender minority. This introductory course offers terminology and foundational knowledge specific to the LGBT+ youth population and a short introduction connecting these identities to disordered eating.

A Social Worker’s Introduction to LGBT+ Identities
Presented by Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Video

Presenter

Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Course: #83Level: Introductory1.5 Hours
  'I found this course to be extremely helpful and the present knowledgeable'   Read Reviews
Every social worker will encounter clients who identify as LGBT+. This introductory course offers terminology and foundational knowledge of the population.

A Social Worker’s Introduction to Gender Minorities
Presented by Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Video

Presenter

Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW
Course: #94Level: Introductory1.5 Hours
  'The speaker is an authority on the subject'   Read Reviews
Every social worker will encounter clients who identify as transgender or as another gender minority. This introductory course offers terminology and foundational knowledge of the population.

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