What is gender?

Gender identity is how a person identifies themselves, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. When the sex assigned at birth is the same as the gender with which we identify, we speak of a cisgender person, and when this is not the case, we speak of a transgender person.

For a long time, we talked about masculine or feminine gender, but today, the question is more about the gender spectrum, with different sliders for each person, enabling non-binary or agender people to feel more included.

We also talk about gender expression to refer to how a person presents their gender to others, i.e. all behaviours, appearances, expressions, etc...

This can include :

• physical characteristics, such as clothing, make-up, hairstyles or accessories worn

• behavioural characteristics such as how you talk or walk, gestures and intonations.

Gender expression can vary from one person to another and can also evolve over the course of a person's life. Gender norms change from culture to culture and from era to era. For example, in 18th-century Europe, men wore high-heeled shoes to express their gender.

A gender stereotype attributes characteristics to a person according to his or her gender (girl/woman, boy/man, non-binary).

Is stereotyping normal?

We all have stereotypes because fitting people into boxes causes our brains to react more quickly. Stereotypes are also transmitted by many means throughout our lives, whether within the family, at school, or through the media (cinema, television, social networks, etc.).

The images we see and the words we hear influence our representations, and stereotypes can lock people into boxes and prevent them from acting freely. They can also influence how we see others, creating prejudice and discrimination.

There are many gender stereotypes, for example, “a man doesn't cry”. They have very real consequences for people, such as the fact that people who identify themselves as cisgender men consult fewer psychologists and have poorer mental health.

How can we combat gender stereotypes?

Being aware of stereotypes is an important first step. You can also learn more about the subject to understand and avoid reproducing stereotypes.

You can also take concrete action. For example, use your own personal pronoun and ask for the pronoun of people you meet, so as not to megenre them (i.e. use the wrong pronoun to refer to that person). You can also think about how you express your gender and whether this corresponds to your own desires or to stereotypes you've internalized. Or speak up when you hear discriminatory comments based on gender stereotypes, even if they're made in jest.

Do you wish we'd talked to you more about gender stereotypes when you were younger? Help HandsAway raise awareness among young people, particularly in schools!