A birth gender, more accurately referred to as birth sex or assigned sex at birth, is the sex designation (male, female, or intersex) initially assigned to a child at birth. This assignment is most often based on the child's external anatomy.
Understanding Assigned Sex at Birth
While "birth gender" is sometimes used, "assigned sex at birth" is a more precise term. This emphasizes that the designation is assigned by medical professionals or others present at the birth, based on observation.
Key Aspects of Assigned Sex at Birth:
- Based on External Anatomy: Typically, the presence of a penis leads to an assignment of male, while the presence of a vulva leads to an assignment of female.
- Not Always Binary: In some cases, a child may be born with ambiguous genitalia or variations in their sex chromosomes or internal reproductive organs, leading to an intersex designation.
- Distinct from Gender Identity: It's crucial to understand that assigned sex at birth is different from gender identity, which is an individual's internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither.
- Terminology: Other terms used synonymously include birth sex, natal sex, and biological sex.
Examples of Terminology:
- AFAB: Assigned Female At Birth
- AMAB: Assigned Male At Birth
Important Considerations
| Consideration | Description |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | While typically accurate, assigned sex at birth is a determination based on observation, not an absolute truth about an individual's identity. |
| Gender Identity Shift | A person's gender identity may or may not align with their assigned sex at birth. Transgender individuals, for example, have a gender identity that differs from their assigned sex. |
| Intersex Variations | Individuals with intersex variations may undergo medical interventions at a young age to align their physical characteristics with a specific sex, though this practice is increasingly debated. |
It is imperative to remember that assigned sex at birth is one aspect of a person's identity, but it does not define who they are.
