The question “How Many Genders Are There?” is increasingly common, reflecting a growing awareness and understanding of gender diversity beyond the traditional binary of male and female. While historically, many societies have recognized only two genders, modern perspectives acknowledge a much broader spectrum. This article delves into the concept of gender identity and explores a list of diverse gender terms that people use to describe their experiences. It’s important to approach this topic with respect and a willingness to learn about the evolving language of gender.
Understanding Gender Identity
Gender identity is a person’s internal sense of being a man, a woman, both, neither, or somewhere else along the gender spectrum. It is distinct from sex assigned at birth, which is typically based on visible biological characteristics. The understanding of gender has evolved significantly, moving beyond a rigid binary to recognize the fluidity and diversity of human experiences. This expanded understanding acknowledges that gender is not simply about biology, but also about personal identity and self-expression.
Beyond the Binary: A List of Gender Identities
While the exact number of gender identities is not fixed and continues to evolve as language and understanding grow, there are many terms that people use to describe their gender. It’s crucial to remember that this list is not exhaustive, and the most important aspect is respecting how individuals identify themselves. Here are some gender identities, offering a glimpse into the diverse spectrum:
- Agender: Individuals who do not identify with any gender. They may feel genderless, neutral, or have no gender identity at all. Agender is also referred to as null-gender, genderless, gendervoid, or neutral gender.
- Abimegender: A gender identity that feels profound, deep, and infinite, often used alone or in combination with other gender terms.
- Adamas gender: A gender that is considered indefinable or unconquerable, where individuals resist categorization into specific gender identities.
- Aerogender (Evaisgender): A gender identity that is fluid and changes in response to one’s environment or surroundings.
- Aesthetigender (Aesthetgender): A gender identity that is strongly linked to aesthetics or a sense of beauty.
- Affectugender: A gender identity that is influenced by or changes with mood fluctuations and emotional states.
- Agenderflux: Predominantly agender, but experiencing brief and occasional shifts to other gender identities.
- Alexigender: Experiencing fluidity between multiple gender identities, but being unable to specifically identify those genders.
- Aliusgender: A gender identity that is distinct from socially constructed gender norms, feeling neither male nor female, but a distinct, specific gender.
- Amaregender: A gender identity that changes depending on the person the individual is currently emotionally connected to.
- Ambigender: Identifying with two distinct gender identities simultaneously, without fluidity or fluctuation between them.
- Ambonec: Identifying as both man and woman, yet feeling separate from or not fully belonging to either category.
- Amicagender: A fluid gender identity that changes based on the friends one is currently associating with.
- Androgyne: Experiencing a blend or combination of both masculine and feminine genders.
- Anesigender: Feeling an affinity for a specific gender, but more closely identifying with a different gender.
- Angenital: Desiring to be without primary sexual characteristics, while not identifying as genderless.
- Anogender: A gender identity that fluctuates in intensity, fading in and out but consistently returning to the same gendered feeling.
- Anongender: Having a gender identity that is felt but is either unlabeled or preferred to remain unlabeled.
- Antegender: A protean gender identity that is formless and without fixed characteristics, capable of being anything.
- Anxiegender: A gender identity where anxiety is a prominent and defining characteristic of the gender experience.
- Apagender: Experiencing apathy or a lack of feeling or concern regarding one’s gender identity.
- Apconsugender: Understanding gender by what it is not, lacking a clear understanding of what gender characteristics truly are, feeling that primary gender characteristics are hidden.
- Astergender: A gender identity that feels bright and celestial, often associated with stars or outer space.
- Astral gender: A gender identity that feels connected to or related to outer space or the cosmos.
- Autigender: A gender identity that is intrinsically linked to being autistic, intertwined with the experience of autism.
- Autogender: A deeply personal and internally defined gender experience, unique and specific to the individual.
- Axigender: A gender identity that exists between agender and another gender, experienced separately without overlap, positioned on opposite ends of an axis.
- Bigender: Identifying with two distinct gender identities, either simultaneously or at different times.
- Biogender: A gender identity that is strongly connected to nature and the natural world.
- Blurgender (Gender Fuss): Experiencing multiple gender identities that blend and blur together, making it difficult to distinguish specific genders.
- Boyflux: Identifying primarily as male, but experiencing varying degrees of male identity, ranging from feeling agender to completely male.
- Burstgender: Experiencing intense bursts of gendered feelings that quickly subside back to a calm state.
- Caelgender: A gender identity that embodies the qualities or aesthetics of outer space, celestial and vast.
- Cassgender: Feeling that gender is irrelevant or unimportant, lacking a strong connection to gender identity.
- Cassflux: Experiencing fluctuating intensity in the feeling of gender irrelevance or unimportance.
- Cavusgender: A gender identity that shifts depending on mood, feeling one gender when depressed and another when not depressed.
- Cendgender: A gender identity that changes from one gender to its direct opposite.
- Ceterogender: A nonbinary gender identity that does not align with masculine, feminine, or neutral feelings, being distinct from these categories.
- Ceterofluid: A ceterogender identity that is fluid and fluctuates between different gender experiences.
- Cisgender: Identifying with the gender that was assigned at birth, a consistent alignment throughout life.
Understanding the Spectrum of Gender Identities: Beyond Male and Female
- Cloudgender: A gender identity that is difficult to grasp or understand, often associated with feelings of depersonalization or derealization.
- Collgender: Experiencing multiple genders simultaneously, all present at the same time.
- Colorgender: Describing gender identity using colors, such as pink gender or black gender, associating gender with specific color experiences.
- Commogender: Recognizing oneself as not cisgender, but continuing to identify as cisgender for a period of time.
- Condigender: Experiencing gender identity only under specific circumstances or conditions.
- Deliciagender: Experiencing multiple genders but having a preference for one gender over others.
- Demifluid: Having multiple genders, where some are static and consistent while others are fluid and changing.
- Demiflux: A combination of multiple genders, with some being static while others fluctuate in intensity.
- Demigender: Partially identifying with one gender while also having traits of another gender, a partial or incomplete gender identity.
- Domgender: Experiencing multiple genders with one gender being dominant or more prominent than the others.
- Duragender: Having multiple genders where one gender lasts or persists for a longer duration compared to others.
- Egogender: A gender identity that is highly personal and self-defined, based on individual experiences and internal understanding.
- Epicene: Feeling strongly disconnected from both binary genders, neither relating to masculine or feminine genders or relating to both in a way that feels incomplete.
- Esspigender: A gender identity that is connected to or associated with spirits or spiritual entities.
- Exgender: Rejecting or denying identification with any gender on the gender spectrum.
- Existigender: A gender identity that only becomes apparent or real when conscious effort is made to recognize and realize it.
- Femfluid: Fluidity or fluctuation specifically within feminine genders.
- Femgender: A nonbinary gender identity that is specifically feminine in nature.
- Fluidflux: Fluidity between two or more genders combined with fluctuations in the intensity of those genders.
- Gemigender: Experiencing two genders that are opposite yet function together in a fluid and interconnected way.
- Genderblank: A gender identity that feels like a blank space or void, often similar to agender but with a sense of emptiness.
- Genderflow: A gender identity that is fluid and flows through an infinite range of feelings and experiences.
- Genderfluid: Not adhering to one fixed gender, moving between many different genders, experiencing gender as fluid and changing.
- Genderfuzz: Experiencing multiple genders that are blurred and indistinct from one another.
- Genderflux: A gender identity where the intensity of the gender experienced fluctuates or varies.
- Genderpuck: Resisting societal norms and expectations related to gender, defying traditional gender categories.
- Genderqueer: Blurring the perceived boundaries of gender, existing outside or between the binary of male and female, challenging traditional gender norms.
- Gender witched: Inclined towards having a specific gender identity but uncertain or unaware of what that gender is.
- Girlflux: Identifying primarily as female, but experiencing varying intensities of female identity.
- Healgender: A gender identity that brings feelings of peace, calm, and positivity, associated with healing and well-being.
- Mirrorgender: Changing or adapting one’s gender identity based on the genders of people in the surrounding environment.
- Omnigender: Experiencing or encompassing all genders, identifying with all genders within the spectrum.
Why So Many Genders?
The expanding list of gender identities reflects a growing societal understanding and acceptance of gender diversity. Language evolves to describe lived experiences, and as more people feel empowered to express their true selves, the vocabulary around gender expands. It’s important to recognize that these terms are not just labels, but reflect genuine and deeply felt identities. The increasing visibility of diverse gender identities also stems from greater awareness, education, and open conversations about gender.
Conclusion
While “how many genders are there?” might seem like a question with a definitive numerical answer, the reality is more nuanced. Gender is a spectrum, and the number of ways people identify is continually evolving. This list provides a snapshot of many recognized gender identities, highlighting the vast diversity beyond the binary. Understanding and respecting this spectrum is crucial for fostering inclusivity and creating a world where everyone feels seen and validated in their gender identity.