What is the Difference Between Intersex and Transgender?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between intersex and transgender lies in the nature of the characteristics they describe:
- Intersex:
- Refers to people born with a mix of male and female hormones, chromosomes, or reproductive organs.
- Describes biological variations in sex characteristics.
- Between 1 in 1,500 and 1 in 2,000 babies are born with intersex traits.
- Intersex people can have any sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Transgender:
- Refers to people whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.
- Describes a social process of gender change.
- Transgender people may be straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
- Transgender is an umbrella term that includes people who are born with typical male or female anatomy but feel like they are a different gender.
While there is some overlap between the two groups, the majority of people with intersex conditions identify as male or female, and not transgender or transsexual. The terms "intersex" and "transgender" should not be used interchangeably, as they describe different aspects of a person's identity and characteristics.
Comparative Table: Intersex vs Transgender
Here is a table comparing the differences between intersex and transgender:
| Feature | Intersex | Transgender |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Intersex refers to a biological variation in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals. Transgender refers to a social process of gender change, where a person's internal experience of gender identity is different from the one traditionally associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. | |
| Sex vs. Gender | Intersex is related to biological sex characteristics. Transgender is related to social gender and gender identity. | |
| Experience | Intersex individuals have anatomy that is not considered typically male or female. Transgender individuals may have typical female or male anatomy but feel like they belong to the opposite gender. | |
| Identity | The vast majority of people with intersex conditions identify as male or female. Transgender individuals identify as a gender different from the one traditionally associated with their assigned sex at birth. | |
| Co-occurrence | It is possible, although rare, for a person to be both intersex and transgender. |
Please note that the above table is a simplified comparison of the main differences between intersex and transgender. There are many variations and individual experiences within both categories, and it is essential to respect and acknowledge the unique experiences of each person.
- Transgender vs Transsexual
- Hermaphrodite vs Intersex
- Gay vs Transgender
- Hermaphrodite vs Transgender
- Transvestites vs Transsexuals
- Gender vs Gender Identity
- Sex vs Gender
- Sex vs Gender
- Gender vs Sexuality
- Gynandromorph vs Hermaphrodite
- Tranny vs Shemale
- Lesbian vs Gay
- Male vs Female
- Homosexual vs Heterosexual
- Gender vs Gender Roles
- Gay vs Straight
- Intrasexual vs Intersexual Selection
- Queer vs Gay
- Hermaphrodite vs Pseudohermaphrodite