Are transgender women women? Yes, they are

Gender can be described as a complex concept encompassing a range of identities, expressions, roles, and societal expectations about behaviors, activities, and attributes considered appropriate for men and women as well as gender-diverse people. While (biological/genetic) sex is about biological and physical differences, gender is about personal, societal, and cultural perceptions of what it means to be male, female, or other genders. Therefore, gender is largely seen as a social and cultural phenomenon that varies across societies and cultures.
Gender identity refers to people's internal sense of their gender. It's how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. This can be the same or different from the sex assigned at birth. Individuals' gender identity can be male, female, a blend of both, neither, or something different. And most importantly, people may have a gender identity that changes over time. It's essential to note that gender identity and sexual orientation are independent of each other. As a gender identity, a woman is generally someone who identifies with the gender roles and expectations that society typically associates with femaleness or womanhood.
Some people may use the different gender identity terms in diverse ways and may have very personal and unique interpretations of what these terms mean to them. This uncertainty or inability to clearly define gender identities without leaving gray areas is at the core of many discussions about gender identity. Defining ‘female’ strictly based on biological sex, for example, allows for a separation of sexes in athletic competitions as well as in the use of public restrooms. On the other hand, if people are allowed to compete in events or use public restrooms based on their gender identity, it challenges and may break societal and cultural norms and rules as well as laws, which is where it gets especially tricky. Legal systems depend on clear and unambiguous definitions, something gender identities cannot provide.
The gender identity that has challenged more people than any other and is still at the center of almost all public discourse is the term ‘transgender’. The term was first coined by Virginia Prince, an American transgender woman who was a pioneer of transgender activism. She used the term in the 1960s to distinguish people who lived full-time in a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth but who did not necessarily want or have surgery from those who did seek surgery, often referred to at the time as ‘transsexuals’.
Gender identity refers to people's internal sense of their gender. It's how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. This can be the same or different from the sex assigned at birth. Individuals' gender identity can be male, female, a blend of both, neither, or something different. And most importantly, people may have a gender identity that changes over time. It's essential to note that gender identity and sexual orientation are independent of each other. As a gender identity, a woman is generally someone who identifies with the gender roles and expectations that society typically associates with femaleness or womanhood.
Some people may use the different gender identity terms in diverse ways and may have very personal and unique interpretations of what these terms mean to them. This uncertainty or inability to clearly define gender identities without leaving gray areas is at the core of many discussions about gender identity. Defining ‘female’ strictly based on biological sex, for example, allows for a separation of sexes in athletic competitions as well as in the use of public restrooms. On the other hand, if people are allowed to compete in events or use public restrooms based on their gender identity, it challenges and may break societal and cultural norms and rules as well as laws, which is where it gets especially tricky. Legal systems depend on clear and unambiguous definitions, something gender identities cannot provide.
The gender identity that has challenged more people than any other and is still at the center of almost all public discourse is the term ‘transgender’. The term was first coined by Virginia Prince, an American transgender woman who was a pioneer of transgender activism. She used the term in the 1960s to distinguish people who lived full-time in a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth but who did not necessarily want or have surgery from those who did seek surgery, often referred to at the time as ‘transsexuals’.
Because of their visibility in daily life and the media, transgender individuals have taken the brunt of the negative reactions and backlash toward the TGN population overall. Some politicians and certain segments of the media have developed a tendency to focus solely on the medical aspects of gender transition, such as hormone therapy and surgery, rather than recognizing the broader social and psychological aspects of gender identity. They have raised concerns and, unfortunately, have helped create misconceptions about allowing children or adolescents to express their gender identity or undergo gender-affirming care. Transgender women, especially, continue to be accused of being nothing but sexual predators who use the disguise of being female to get access to vulnerable women and girls, such as in public restrooms or changing areas.
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The increase in the proportion of Gen Z students identifying as TGN over the last few years has been stunning. In the Fall 2022 National College Health Assessment (NCHA), 5.1% of Gen Z undergraduate students identified as transgender/gender-nonconforming (TGN). Among the Gen Z students participating in my survey between 2016 and 2022, 97% identified as female or male and 3% as TGN. However, when we look at the responses from 2021 and 2022 only, the percentage of TGN is at 5%. Data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) show that the current population of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 is significantly more likely to identify as transgender as compared with older generations. Already now, one can assume that every middle school and high school class in America has at least one TGN student; they or their parents may just not be ready to reveal that fact, given the backlash they may face.
Unfortunately, this increase in numbers and the acceptance and support this group receives from their fellow Gen Zers has been overshadowed by negative reactions from older generations. Additionally, legislation aimed mainly at transgender individuals but also other members of the LGBTQ+ community has been passed in several states. Even though TGN individuals will always remain a minority, going forward they will be much stronger and more vocal than in the past. Denying TGN people the right to live according to their gender identity won’t make them go away.
There will always be transgender women and men, regardless of whether people like it or not. And because gender identity is based on people’s internal sense of their gender, transgender women are women and transgender men are men, no matter what they may look like or dress like. Some people may choose to only transition socially. They may, for instance, continue to dress like a man with a shirt and tie and grow a beard yet identify as a woman and use the pronouns ‘she/her/hers’. Others may undergo medical treatments but not surgery, and some may only pursue legal transition. There's no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to transition, and it's not a requirement for identifying as transgender. The ultimate goal of transitioning is to live authentically and comfortably in one's identity.
On a recent flight back to the U.S., I saw what I think was a transgender woman – it was apparent that she had been born as a man, but she was dressed like a woman and wore makeup, jewelry, and women’s glasses. I have no idea if that person has started or completed their medical or legal transition, but that doesn’t matter – she decided that her gender identity was female, and that makes her a woman. End of discussion.
Unfortunately, this increase in numbers and the acceptance and support this group receives from their fellow Gen Zers has been overshadowed by negative reactions from older generations. Additionally, legislation aimed mainly at transgender individuals but also other members of the LGBTQ+ community has been passed in several states. Even though TGN individuals will always remain a minority, going forward they will be much stronger and more vocal than in the past. Denying TGN people the right to live according to their gender identity won’t make them go away.
There will always be transgender women and men, regardless of whether people like it or not. And because gender identity is based on people’s internal sense of their gender, transgender women are women and transgender men are men, no matter what they may look like or dress like. Some people may choose to only transition socially. They may, for instance, continue to dress like a man with a shirt and tie and grow a beard yet identify as a woman and use the pronouns ‘she/her/hers’. Others may undergo medical treatments but not surgery, and some may only pursue legal transition. There's no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to transition, and it's not a requirement for identifying as transgender. The ultimate goal of transitioning is to live authentically and comfortably in one's identity.
On a recent flight back to the U.S., I saw what I think was a transgender woman – it was apparent that she had been born as a man, but she was dressed like a woman and wore makeup, jewelry, and women’s glasses. I have no idea if that person has started or completed their medical or legal transition, but that doesn’t matter – she decided that her gender identity was female, and that makes her a woman. End of discussion.