The Genderbread Person

version 3.3 by "it's pronounced metrosexual.com"

Gender is one of those things everyone thinks they understand but most people don't. Like Inception. Gender isn't binary. It's not either/or. In many cases it's both/and. A bit of this, a dash of that. This tasty little guide is meant to be an appetizer for gender understanding. It's okay if you're hungry for more. In fact, that's the idea.

An image of a genderbread man conveys that idea that identity is located in the brain, attraction is located in the heart and sex is located in the genitals. All three combine into the concept of expression.

Gender identity

How you, in your head, define your gender, based on how much you align (or don't align) with what you understand to be the options for gender. The continuum runs from a lack of gender identification to full gender identification of woman-ness and man-ness. Options include: woman, man, two-spirit and genderqueer.

Gender Expression

The ways you present gender, through your actions, dress, and demeanor, and how those presentations are interpreted based on gender norms. The continuum runs from a lack of gender expression to full gender expression of feminine and masculine. Options include: butch, femme, androgynous and gender neutral.

Biological Sex

The physical sex characteristics you're born with and develop, including genitalia, body shape, voice pitch, body hair, hormones, chromosomes, etc. The continuum runs from lack of biological sex to female-ness and male-ness. Options include male, female, intersex and MtF Female.

Sexually Attracted to

The continuum runs from nobody to women/females/femininity and to men/males/masculinity.

Romantically Attracted to

The continuum runs from nobody to women/females/femininity and to men/males/masculinity.

In each grouping, circle all that apply to you and plot a point, depicting the aspects of gender toward which you experience attraction.

For a bigger bite, read more at http://bit.ly/genderbread