Key Terms & Definitions for Understanding Identity

Human beings have found so many different terms or describing nouns to understand who they are, or to categorise each other into groups. Labels help our brains to process information apprpriately, but they have also been often used to discriminate against certain groups. It is important that we continue to use the correct terminology to describe who we truly mean in our discussions, but remember that above all else, we are each human at our basic core.

Gender Identity

Gender Identity is a personal sense of one's own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. A persons sex does not determine a persons gender, and there are different terms which we can use when referring to an individuals sex.

• Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB): A term used to describe someone who was designated as female when they were born.

  
  

• Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB): A term used to describe someone who was designated as male when they were born.

  
  

• Intersex: A person who is born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.

If you feel as though your gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth then you would be Cisgender, however if your gender differs from the sex they were assigned at birth you may be Transgender.

Transgender is an umbrella term used for anybody whos gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth, but it does not necessarily mean that you must have switched from male to female (MTF) or female to male (FTM). Believing this creates the assumption that only 2 genders can exist, when in reality human identity is a spectrum.

Some individuals identify as Non-Binary, which means that their gender identity that doesn't fit within the traditional binary of male or female. Others might identify as Genderqueer if their gender identity or expression that challenges or rejects the binary gender system. If a person is Agender, then they identify as having no gender or being without a gender identity. Someone who is Bigender identifies with two distinct genders, either simultaneously or switching between them. Or if an individual is Genderfluid, their gender identity changes over time or depending on the situation.

Some cultures also believe in gender identity as being directly correlated with our spirit. A term used by some Indigenous North American cultures describe a person who embodies both masculine and feminine qualities or roles as Two-Spirit.

There has been a lot of stigma created surrounding the Spectrum of Gender Identity, but it is alway important to remember to use the correct Pronouns! Simply put, pronouns are words used to refer to people in place of their name (e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them). They're really not that big or scary and we all have them! Referring to someone using a pronoun or form of address that does not correctly reflect their gender identity is called Misgendering and is a form of discrimination. Similarly, referring to a transgender person by the name they used before they transitioned otherwise known as Deadnaming, can also be harmful or distressing.

If a person begins the transition process or identifies as a gender which does not correspond with their sex at birth then they may experience Gender Dysphoria, which is a medical condition where a person experiences distress due to a mismatch between their gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth. If the individual see's transitioning as the best option for them, then they may begin a process by which a person begins to live as their true gender, which may involve medical, legal, and social changes. Medical changes may be starting with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), using hormones to induce physical changes in the body that align with a person's gender identity, which then could follow onto Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS), which is a set of surgical procedures that alter a person's body to align with their gender identity. This is sometimes referred to as "gender-affirming surgery."

An individual may also freely express themselves through the external display of gender, through clothing, behavior, hairstyle, etc., which may or may not align with a person's gender identity, which we call Gender Expression.

Throughout my research, I often touch upon LGBTQ+ subjects - this acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and others, representing a spectrum of identities. Remember, even if you're not identifying within the community yourself, it is important to be an Ally and continue to support and stand up for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual Orientation can be defined as an individual's emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to other people.

• Heterosexual: A person who is attracted to individuals of the opposite gender.

  
  

• Homosexual: A person who is attracted to individuals of the same gender.

  
  

• Bisexual: A person who is attracted to more than one gender.

  
  

• Pansexual: A person who is attracted to others regardless of their gender.

  
  

• Asexual: A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.

  
  

• Demisexual: A person who experiences sexual attraction only after forming a strong emotional connection.

  
  

• Queer: An umbrella term that can refer to sexual orientations, gender identities, or expressions that differ from the heterosexual and cisgender norms.

Race and Ethnicity

Race is a socially constructed concept that categorises people based on their physical characteristics, such as skin colour, facial features, and hair texture. These groups often face discrimination that impact individuals' experiences, opportunities, and treatment in society, which have lasted throughout history. Race is not a biological nor scientific discussion, rather a war against minorities deeply tied to systems of power and privilege. Race is often confused with ethnicity, but ethnicity refers to shared cultural traits, such as language, religion, and heritage, whilst race is about how people are grouped and treated based on physical characteristics.

When describing Race or Ethnicity, it is again important to get the terminology correct:

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) : A term that specifically highlights the unique experiences of Black and Indigenous people within the broader category of people of colour.

  
  

• Women of Colour (WOC) : Refers to women who are not considered white, acknowledging their specific experiences of intersectionality in the context of both race and gender.

  
  

• Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) : Refers to individuals with ancestry from Asia and the Pacific Islands.

  
  

• Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) : Used in the UK to describe non-white populations.

  
  

• Latinx: A gender-neutral term for individuals of Latin American descent, used as an alternative to Latino/Latina.

  
  

• Non-Black Person of Colour (NBPOC): Used to refer to people of colour who are not Black, recognising that different POC communities experience racism differently.

  
  

• Roma, Sinti, and other marginalised ethnic groups in Europe (ROM) : Refers to the diverse Romani communities across Europe.

  
  

• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) : A more inclusive term than AAPI, explicitly including Native Hawaiian communities.

Religion & Spiritual Beliefs

Regardless of the specific religion, if an individual is actively practicing their faith then they are Practicing Religious Adherent (PRA).

If you do practice a religion then there is a good chance your beliefs may fit with one of those listed below! But these are only the majorly known religions, they do not include lesser known or smaller groups.

• One of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded in ancient Persia - the Zoroastrianism religion has approximately 100,000-200,000 adherents who use the holy scripture of Avesta to understand their beliefs. This religion focuses primarily on the duality of good and evil, and the importance of individual choice.

• Next, Judaism is a religion which predates Christianity and is the basis for Christian belief. Judaism has approximately 14 million adherents who use the holy scripture of The Torah (part of the larger Tanakh) to understand their beliefs. Jewish people have a monotheistic belief in a covenant between God and the Jewish people with their practices and beliefs rooted in the Torah.

  
  

• Following from Judaism, Christianity was then developed focusing on the Bible as a holy text, with approximately 2.3 billion adherents globally. Christians tend to share a monotheistic belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of humanity. Christianity also encompasses many other denominations such as Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.

  
  

• Holding a similar belief of a prophet is the religion of Bahá'í Faith. Bahá'í Faith has approximately 7 million adherents who use the holy scripture of Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Kitáb-i-Íqán, and others to understand their beliefs. This faith uses a monotheistic belief in the unity of all religions and humanity, and in Bahá'u'lláh as the latest prophet.

  
  

• Again, believing in monotheism, Sikhism has approximately 30 million adherents who use the holy scripture of Guru Granth Sahib to understand their beliefs in one God and the teachings of ten Gurus, with an emphasis on equality, service, and devotion.

  
  

• Religion does not always mean that you are theistic as many religions use a faith belief system which is rooted in how we act toward each other and how we relate to ourselves. A famous example of this, is in Buddhism. Buddhism has approximately 520 million adherents who use the holy scripture of Tripitaka, Mahayana Sutras, and others to understand their beliefs. Buddhism does not rely on theism but instead focuses on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to achieve enlightenment and end suffering.

  
  

• Another example of non-theistic religion, is in Jainism. Jainism has approximately 4-6 million adherents who use the holy scripture of Agamas and other Jain scriptures to understand their beliefs. The focus of this religion is an emphasis of non-violence (ahimsa), truth, and asceticism, with a focus on liberation of the soul through self-discipline. Whereas on the opposite of the spectrum, Taoism (Daoism), uses philosophical and religious traditions from China focused on living in harmony with the Tao (the Way), emphasizing simplicity, spontaneity, and balance. The religious teachings of Taoism (Daoism) has approximately 20-50 million adherents who use the holy scripture of Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi to understand their beliefs.

  
  

• The Hindu Faith has approximately 1.2 billion adherents who use the holy scripture of Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and others to understand their beliefs. Hinduism uses a Polytheistic belief in a supreme being with various forms and incarnations. Hindu's also commonly believe in karma, reincarnation, and dharma. The faith includes practices like yoga and meditation.

  
  

• Indigenous Religions are often too diverse and scattered to create an accurately predicted number. Collectively there are millions of adherents who use the holy scripture of what are often oral traditions rather than written scriptures to understand their beliefs. As the religions are often diverse, there are various beliefs that can be known to them. Often their beliefs tend to be polytheistic or animistic, with a strong connection to nature, ancestors, and community rituals. Similarly, the Shinto religion is the indigenous religion of Japan and has approximately 4 million adherents who use the holy scripture of Kojiki, Nihon Shoki to understand their beliefs. Their religious views are polytheistic with a focus on kami (spirits) and rituals to connect with the natural world and ancestors.

  
  

• Then there is a completely non-theistic approach using an philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, which emphases moral values, family loyalty, and social harmony using the holy scripture of The Analects, Five Classics to understand their beliefs. Confucianism as a religion has approximately 6 million but this often overlaps with other belief systems.

  
  

• Many religions have become the guideline for regulations and laws created for each country, but one which has caused controversy for the longest time is the state of Islam. The term Muslim (MUS) refers to individuals who follow the religion of Islam which currently has approximately 1.9 billion adherents. This may involve the permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law, use of specific foods otherwise refered to as Halal (HAL). The key beliefs of Islam, is a monotheistic belief Allah as the one true God and Muhammad as His final prophet; major branches include Sunni and Shia. Their holy scripture is the Quran.

• Whilst this religion is highly stigmatised, it is important to remember that every religious group will have extremists just as they also have many people of faith who do not condone the same actions as their extremist peers. That being said, there is a global campaign promoting various forms of boycott against Israel called the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) until Israel meets what the campaign describes as Israel's obligations under international law. This subject may arise throughout my research as it ties heavily to the topic of Feminism as a whole, thus it was important to acknowledge.

  
  

• There is one religion in particular which uses a different approach to practice altogether, that being the Wiccan's. Wicca is a modern, pagan, and religious movement that draws on various ancient traditions and modern interpretations of witchcraft with approximately 1-3 million adherents. It is a decentralized religion with a variety of traditions and practices, so beliefs and practices can vary significantly between different Wiccan communities or individuals.

• Wiccan's do not use a single central holy book like the Bible or Quran. However, there are several key texts that many Wiccans use such as a personal or coven-based collection of spells, rituals, and religious texts otherwise known as a Book of Shadows or Grimoire. This text is often handwritten and passed down or created by individual Wiccans or covens. A key text in Wicca, often recited during rituals, which outlines the teachings and principles of the Goddess may also be used called The Charge of the Goddess. But most commonly, Wiccan's will use the same general ethical code laid out within The Wiccan Rede.

• Wiccan's beliefs are rooted in Polytheistic and Nature-Centered understandings of the world. The religion places a strong emphasis on nature and the cycles of the seasons. Some Wiccan's do not believe in a God, but some may focus on one deity or a variety of deities from different traditions, or choose to worship a Goddess and a God. The key beliefs are to do no harm to others, and that whatever energy you put out into the world will be returned to you. This is often practiced via environmentalism and sustainability as part of their spiritual beliefs, but is also seen via the practice of rituals, often performed during Sabbats (seasonal festivals) and Esbats (full moon ceremonies). Magic, seen as the practice of manipulating natural energies to bring about change, is a key component of Wiccan practice.

These religions represent the majority of the world's spiritual and religious beliefs, each with its own unique practices, traditions, and teachings.

When I use any of these terms or phrases in my research, I do not mean to offend or cause harm against anyone or any group of people. I simply intend to be clear on how I discuss these heavy topics and hope you will have patience with me if I make mistakes. But now if there are ever terms you do not understand when I reference identity, you can find them here! I shall attempt to update this accordingly as I continue to upload more information to the platform.