I made a quick chart on how to talk about things related to sex/gender without just falling back on either ciscentric “men/women” language, or just using AGAB for everything regardless of whether or not it makes sense.
it’s text so I just copied it if that’s okay
[ID: 1. How is wo/manhood related to what you are trying to talk about?
Sex (it’s related to biological characteristics) -> 2
Gender (it’s related to society & culture) -> 3
2. Can you specify what characteristic/s are related? (i.e high estrogen is correlated with certain symptoms, a genetic condition relies on having a Y chromosome)
Yes -> Then use biologically specific language (i.e “people with estrogen-dominant bodies” “XY people”)
No -> Use AGAB language- I suggest using it in past tense (i.e she was assigned male at birth) to emphasis that this assignment happened in the past and sexual characteristics can change over the course of your life
3. Can you specify what aspects of gender are related? (i.e misogyny victimization is correlated with certain conditions, having a masculine name makes you more likely to be hired)
Yes -> 4
No -> If you really can’t specify, use terminology like “people perceived as women” “assumed men” that acknowledges the issue is fundamentally social and that non-women/non-men may be affected as well, even if the issue is targeting men/women.
4. ls this aspect actually tied to gender identity, or can non-men/non-women also be affected? (for example: men can be victimized by misogyny, women can have masculine names)
Yes -> Then feel free to use gendered language, although be open-minded if someone says that they have had an experience despite not being the “right” gender
No -> Use non-gendered language that opens the door for people who aren’t the “right” gender to be included (i.e “targets of misogyny,” “people with masculine names”) End ID]
