Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Transgender individuals are people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This means that their internal sense of themselves as male, female, or something else does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Related terms
Gender dysphoria: Gender dysphoria refers to the distress experienced by transgender individuals due to the incongruence between their gender identity and assigned sex at birth.
Gender affirmation: Gender affirmation is the process of supporting transgender individuals in living according to their true gender identity, promoting well-being and mental health.
Transitioning: Transitioning involves social, medical, or legal changes made by transgender individuals to align with their gender identity. It can include changing one's name, pronouns, appearance, or undergoing hormone therapy or surgery.