Aliagender (All you need to know)
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In this blog post, we will define the following terms: aliagender, gender identity, non-binary identity, sexual identity. We will also give you some tips on how to support people in your life who are aliagender.
What does it mean to be aliagender?
Aliagender is a gender identity that represents people who consider themselves neither men nor women, but “other”.
The term aliagender represents the third gender, Alius comes from Latin and it means other.
Aliagender is a non-binary identity, which does not mean a lack of gender identity and expression, on the contrary, it highlights the presence of a strong identity, other than masculine and feminine.
What does it mean to be non-binary?
The term non-binary is used by individuals who do not identify as men or women. In other words, they find themselves on a fluid spectrum between the terms man and woman.
Non-binary, in essence, is the term used for those who do not identify with the gender to which they were assigned at birth.
For this reason, many non-binary people consider themselves part of the trans or LGBT community.
Someone who is not binary does not see himself as a man or a woman specifically.
This is a very broad way of saying that these people do not see themselves in the way society said they should be.
A non-binary person may also struggle with sexual orientation and may even consider it transgender so that their body reflects what is most closely identified with sex.
About gender identity
For the delimitation within the same identity of two distinct components‚ related to consciousness biological and social qualities, there were proposed two terms:
- sex to define biological qualities what marks the differences between men and women and
- gender, which indicates socio-cultural traits.
The term “gender” in the current sense was first used by the British psychologist Robert Stoller11 in 1968‚ being taken over by the theorists of the feminist movement for defining socio-cultural differences between masculinity and femininity.
Thus, a detachment from the traditional term sex was achieved. Later some authors attributed socio-biological affiliation to the term.
The theme of the research was problem-oriented identification and formation of the concept of self under the root
gender identity, historical and spatial, cultural and ethnic influences, but, especially,
towards that of gender relations.
In this context, fueled by the feminist movement worldwide, the issue of gender differences has become increasingly important in research and currently appears to be one of the most discussed subjects.
Various concepts and guidelines can be mentioned, which reveal the presence or absence of differences significant differences between genders, using as a point of reference to the various parameters:
- Biological – genetic
- Somatic – the physical feeling
- Psychological – at the level of reasons, interests, skills;
- social – the impact of cultural-normative influences, stating by the socialization of distinct identities, etc.
The theme of differences and similarities between genders is not just an object of scientific investigation.
Currently, when there is a considerable change in content and distribution of social roles, this aspect is of great concern to those who face it in daily practice with the disturbances produced by those changes.
According to genetic studies ‚the initial mechanism of gender differentiation consists of the interrelation of the triad: hormone, brain, behaviour.
Until recently, it was asserted that there is only the relationship between hormones and behaviour, the former having a decisive role.
But according to recent research, it has been shown that there may be a
inverse relationship, i.e. external factors can influence into some extent appropriate hormonal secretions differentiation mechanism.
It turns out that hormones regulate development processes, but also depend on the environment’s external information.
At the same time, the brain performs the behaviour programming function both according to the male and female model, which depends,
ultimately, the conditions of individual development.
Ultimately, hormones determine the differentiation of the nerve channels of some
sections of the brain that regulate sexual differentiation and, consequently, behaviour.
Sexual identity
Awareness of sexual identity takes place in early ontogenesis: at 2-3 years the child distinguishes girls from boys and realizes his sexual affiliation.
But only at 4-5 years, the child possesses the ability to correctly determine other people’s sex.
But as experimental research has shown‚ even at this age children still think that sex can be changed, if this is desired thing, since until 6-7 years they do not perceive the constancy in ambience‚ considering that everything can be changed.
Cognitive development and integration of social knowledge lead to the assertion of sexual identity.
Perception of differences and self-awareness sexual affiliations are presented as an important activity in gender identification, but incomplete, because gender identity is more complex than sexual identity or ‘better said’ includes the latter and adapts to social demands.
If speaking of sexual affiliation, we refer to the two sexes – women and men, gender identity presents these two entities known and constituted based on the general stereotype accepted, but also a distinct category – that of androgens.
Androgynous identity (Greek: Andros – male and gine – woman), summing up features attributed by tradition femininity or masculinity‚ does not present itself as a
deficient gender identity, but on the contrary, bimodal.
To cope with the current social situation and not face disapproval, people who are not in accordance with the traditional prescriptions of the gender role they resort to strategic patterns of behaviour.
Although the new social situation no longer allows for inequality, in dealing with gender, social competition is manifested still strong.
What can be done to support the people in your life who are aliagender?
According to a 2012 report from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Transgender Discrimination Survey 2008, aliagender people experience more discrimination in certain areas than their transgender friends.
The report found that 32 per cent of aliagender people experienced physical aggression related to prejudice, compared to 25 per cent of all respondents.
It was also noted that 36 per cent postponed health care for fear of bias, compared to 28 per cent of all respondents.
There are a number of things you can do to show your support for the aliagender people in your life and help alleviate some of this discomfort. For example, removing gender language vocabulary can be an easy first step.
If you’re not sure what someone’s pronouns are or if you address a group, you can use something like “dear people” for a group of people or “dear friend” instead of “sir” or “lady.”
Other things you can do to prevent misgendering and claim a person’s identity include:
- Don’t make assumptions. You might think you know how someone identifies based on how they look or how they behave, but you can’t really know until you ask.
- Always ask! It is important to ask people what their pronouns are and in some cases how they identify, especially if you are unsure. Make sure you provide the same information about yourself when you do.
- Do not ask invasive questions about a person’s body or medical history, unless they have given you permission to do so.
- Be prepared for the possibility that your friend’s pronoun and expression may change over time. Just be sure to check with them and go with the flow!f
- It’s okay if you are confused. We all can be. The best thing you can do if you use incorrect pronouns or make a mistake in how you treat someone is to apologize and move on.
Conclusions
In this blog post, we defined the following terms: aliagender, gender identity, non-binary identity, sexual identity. We also gave you some tips on how to support people in your life who are aliagender.
Aliagender is a non-binary identity, which does not mean a lack of gender identity and expression, on the contrary, it highlights the presence of a strong identity, other than masculine and feminine.
Non-binary, in essence, is the term used for those who do not identify with the gender to which they were assigned at birth.
For this reason, many non-binary people consider themselves part of the trans or LGBT community.
More and more people are coming to understand themselves as aliagender, non-binary, or transgender and atypical acceptance of people’s sex is growing.
It is important that the general population learns more about gender identities and how to treat people who are aliagender with sensitivity and care.
If you have any comments, questions or recommendations, please let us know!
Further reading
Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality, by Jerrold S. Greenberg
References
transequality.org/
Genderqueerid.com
nonbinary.wiki/
