Pictogram Freedom-seeker

Freedom-seeker

Pictogram Freedom-seeker

CHercheur.euse de liberté

Pictogram Homeless person

HOMELESS PERSON

Pictogram Asylum seeker

ASYLUM-SEEKER

Pictogram Asylum seeker

Demandeur.euse.s de protection internationale

Pictogram Refugee

REFUGEE

Pictogram Refugee

réfugié.e

Pictogram Professional

PROFESSIONAL

Pictogram Professional

PROFESSIONNEL.LE

GENDER EXPRESSION

Gender expression/presentation is a person's behavior, mannerisms, interests, and appearance that are associated with gender in a particular cultural context, specifically with the categories of femininity or masculinity. This also includes gender roles. These categories rely on stereotypes about gender.

Gender expression refers to people’s manifestation of their identity to others, though, for instance, dress, speech, and mannerisms. People’s gender expression may or may not match their gender identity/identities, or the gender/sex they were assigned at birth. These are the different ways people express their gender identity and perform it socially. It can be fairly feminine, more masculine, more androgynous... We are talking about ways to dress, walk and move, to wear or not makeup, talk, wear this or that physical attribute (such as hairstyle, body hair, etc.).

The expression of gender varies enormously according to the regions of the world and the period. Gender expression should not be confused with gender identity. For example, it is quite possible to identify oneself as a man (gender identity) and to have a somewhat "feminine" appearance (gender expression), for example, by wearing so-called "feminine" clothes or even makeup.

  • Drag king: Drag kings are people who temporarily construct a masculine identity based on archetypes and through playing a character. This cultural practice does not necessarily have a link with gender identity. Drag kings express their identity through stereotypical masculinity, during shows or events. The movement originated in the 18th century with the practice of “male impersonators”. If drag kings show some sense of belonging to masculinity through their physical appearance, they are not necessarily transgender.
  • Drag queen: Drag queens who temporarily construct a feminine identity through stereotypical femininity, generally for the purpose of entertainment or as part of a show including song, dance, lip-sync, stand-up, and impressions. Like any cross-dressing, the fact of dressing as a drag queen is not an indication either of the sexual orientation of the person concerned or of their true gender identity; a drag queen is not necessarily a transgender person.
  • Transvestite, cross-dresser: A person who, on a permanent or occasional basis, presents a gender expression contrary to their usual gender identity. Generally, transvestites do not identify as trans* and do not plan to undertake a transition.
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