This section outlines how key terms relating to gender and sex are used in this Action Plan. We acknowledge that language changes and that certain terms may mean different things to different people. The intention of this section is to clarify the meaning of terms within the context of this Action Plan, and not necessarily how they are always used in other contexts.
A term used by some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe trans people who have a masculine spirit and take on men's roles within the community.
A term used to describe a person whose current gender is the same as what was presumed for them at birth.
A person's sense of whether they are a man, woman, non-binary, agender, genderqueer, genderfluid or a combination of one or more of these, or something else.
The process of socially, medically, legally or otherwise affirming a person's gender when it does not align to their sex assigned at birth.
A term for people whose gender is different to the traditional man or woman binary or is different to what was presumed for them at birth. This can include non-binary, agender, genderqueer and genderfluid people, as well as people with other gender identities.
When people of different genders have equal rights, opportunities, outcomes and inclusion in society. Gender equality can be achieved by removing bias and discrimination and by responding to the different needs of people of different genders.
Being fair to people of all genders, including by recognising differences between genders and taking steps to address disadvantages experienced by people of certain genders.
People who are born with anatomical, chromosomal and hormonal characteristics that are different from medical and conventional expectations of female and male bodies. There are at least 40 known variations. These terms refer to an individual's body, not a sexuality or a gender identity.
Refers to how multiple characteristics can combine to lead to distinctive needs, experiences, outcomes or disadvantages. For example, the needs of Aboriginal women may be different to women generally and to Aboriginal people generally. Intersecting characteristics can include gender, remoteness, ability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, religion, culture and other characteristics.
Acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer. The “+" represents other diverse identities and experiences of gender and sexuality. Communities may use other terms to describe themselves.
Medical misogyny refers to the conscious and unconscious biases that affect women in medical settings or create barriers for women to access medical treatment.
Referring to a person's gender incorrectly, or using incorrect pronouns, either intentionally or unintentionally.
A term used to describe genders that sit within, outside of or across the female or male binary. This includes people whose gender is not exclusively female or male. A person might identify solely as non-binary, or it might be used as an umbrella term for other gender identities such as genderfluid, genderqueer, bigender, trans masculine, trans feminine, agender or something else.
The terms used to refer to individuals when their names are not used. Pronouns include he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs or others that an individual may prefer.
Physical features of a person's body that relate to sex, including chromosomes, genitals, gonads, hormones, reproductive anatomy and other secondary features that emerge at puberty.
Refers to unwanted sexual behaviour that offends, humiliates or intimidates a person.
A term used by some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe trans people that have a female spirit and take on women's roles within the community.
An umbrella term that describes people whose gender is different to what was presumed for them at birth. Transgender people may see 'being trans' as a history or experience, rather than an identity, and consider their gender as simply being female, male or another gender.
Source: References 20-25