What does it mean?

“noting or relating to a person whose gender identity or gender expression does not conform to socially defined male or female gender norms” – Dictionary.com

“Gender variance is an atypical development in the relationship between the gender identity and the visible sex of an individual.” – GIRES

“Gender variant” is particularly often used to describe children and young people or their behaviour.

Terms with similar meanings are gender non-conforming and gender expansive.

Umbrella term

"Gender variant" is a term that covers a large number of different people - it’s an umbrella term.

Terms like this can:

• help if you’re not sure what specific term describes you
• help if how you relate to gender is fluid and changes over time
• be more likely to be understood by the general public
• be useful for ensuring that a wide range of different people can access resources and support

However, terms like this can also:

• hide how much people using the term actually differ
• hide how much more discrimination some people using the term receive
• include people in a term that they don’t like without asking them
• include people in a term that they don't feel actually describes them

Think carefully before using this term to describe someone or a group of people - they may not wish to be described that way.

Defined by breaking norms

"Gender variant" is a term that describes whether people are breaking the rules - “norms” - of how people are expected to behave or describe themselves.

Terms like this can:

• make visible that it is possible to break norms
• help explain how people are discriminated against or targeted for breaking norms
• help explain the privilege given to people who do not break norms

However, terms like this can also:

• imply that only certain people are allowed to break norms
• be confusing, as almost everyone breaks at least some norms
• be confusing, as people may not know whether they break enough norms to use the term
• hide that some people don't just experience discrimination for breaking norms, and experience gender dysphoria too
• result in the term being used to mean “normal person” or “abnormal person”

Think carefully before using this term to describe someone or a group of people - they may not wish to be described that way.

Errors and omissions

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