This week on Terminology Tuesday I will explain what it means to misgender someone.
Misgendering someone is when, for example, you call a boy “she.” You refer to someone by the incorrect gender.
Sometimes it’s intentional, but it can also simply be a mistake. It happens. Whether you are on the sending or receiving end, I need you to know that making an honest mistake is okay. The idea of two distinct genders, male and female, which can easily be visually identified has been ingrained in a lot of people for as long as they have been alive. It isn’t always easy to break out of this. It’s okay to make an honest mistake.
What is not okay is intentionally misgendering someone. Often, trans* individuals will be intentionally misgendered in someone else’s attempt to invalidate their identity. This could be done for a number of reasons, one being to validate their own identity. Intentionally misgendering someone in an attempt to insult and invalidate them is never okay.
If you want to talk more about this topic, or have anything you want to add, feel free to either contact me or leave a comment.
