Bi-Gender

Broadly defined, bi-gender, sometimes represented as bi+gender or bigender, describes an individual who shifts between masculine and feminine gender identity and behaviors across time, activities, and context or setting. Some bi-gender individuals have distinct male and female personas, whereas others may express masculinity and femininity alternatively, and some others have a mixed or fluid gender expression most of the time. The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes bi-gender as a subcategory of transgender identity. While some bi-gender individuals report a sense of agency and self-determination that contributes to the experiences of their gender identity, others report an involuntary and unpredictable switching across and between their gender identities, which can cause significant intra- and interpersonal distress. This entry begins with a discussion of the evolution of recognition ...