Agenda
What is a-gender?
A-gender (also written as agender) is a term used to describe people who do not identify with a specific gender identity. In other words, someone who is a-gender does not feel male or female and falls outside traditional gender categories.
But wait, let's first take a moment to consider what gender identity actually means. Gender identity refers to how someone feels and identifies themselves in terms of their gender. For most people, this corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth - male or female - but for others it may be different.
Imagine gender identity is like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg, which sticks out above the water, represents the traditional male and female gender roles that we often see in society. But beneath the surface is a whole world of different gender identities, including a-gender.
Back to a-gender. People who identify as a-gender do not feel connected to the idea of masculinity or femininity. They experience no internal perception of their gender and have no need to conform to traditional gender norms.
Agender is not the same as non-binary
It's important to note that being a-gender is not the same as being neutral gender (also called non-binary). Neutral gender refers to people who do not identify themselves as exclusively male or female, but somewhere in between or even outside of these binary categories. A-gender goes one step further and means that there is no sense of gender identity at all.
As with other gender identities, being agender can take different forms and can be experienced differently for individuals. Some people may have always felt this way, while others may only discover later in life that they identify better with the term "a-gender."
Out of respect, use the correct pronouns
An important aspect of understanding and respecting a-gender individuals is using appropriate pronouns. Instead of he or she, a-gender people can choose to be addressed with they/their pronouns. It's always good to ask about a person's preferences if you're unsure.
Be open to diversity in gender identities
Although a-gender is still less known than other gender identities, awareness and understanding of this identity is fortunately growing steadily. It is important for society to be open to diversity in gender identities and to accept people as they are.
Finally...
So there you have it! Now you know what a-gender means and how it relates to gender identity. Hopefully you learned something new and are more informed about this topic. Remember to always listen to others with respect and empathy when they share their own gender identity!
All gender identities
Gender cake
