Glossary
Our glossary is a handy reference to some of the terms used throughout the Early Pride Matters website. As you acquaint yourself with these terms, remember that language continually evolves to reflect our changing world. Sometimes, it's hard to keep up. You may struggle to find the right words as you implement your anti-bias curriculum or discuss LGBTQ+ issues with parents and colleagues. But don't get discouraged. Nobody gets it right 100% of the time. Give yourself credit for the work that you've already done to make the world a more inclusive place, remember that you're changing lives for the better—and keep up the good work!
Ally: An ally is someone who consistently supports LGBTQ+ people and defends their rights.
Anti-bias education/practices: Anti-bias education is a framework for conceptualizing and planning educational practices that acknowledge, examine and attempt to dismantle bias, injustice and prejudice in early childhood education. Developed by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards—the authors of Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves—anti-bias education is organized around four key goals: identity, diversity, justice/fairness, and activism. The authors' work in this area has informed the development of Early Pride Matters and is referenced throughout our website.
Assigned sex at birth: When a baby is born, a sex is assigned—usually by a medical professional. While external genitalia are generally used to define the infant as a boy or a girl, nearly 2% of children are intersex. These children may have visibly ambiguous genitalia or differences between their chromosomes, internal/external sex organs or other biological factors that influence sex. Intersex children serve as one example of how our understanding of sex frequently does not reflect the reality of human diversity. While most newborns are assigned male at birth (AMAB) or assigned female at birth (AFAB), we have no way of knowing what gender they will identify with as they mature.
Bias: Bias is an unjustified and unfair tendency to judge in favor of or against someone or something. When we use the term on the Early Pride Matters website, bias typically refers to the inclination of some people to misjudge LGBTQ+ people or allies and view them in a negative light. Because bias is often unconscious, we may be unaware of our biases.
Binary: A binary construct is something that falls into one of only two categories. For example, something is either present or absent and cannot be both. Binaries apply when there are no gray areas. Binary thinking is problematic when applied to phenomena that are too complex to be captured by simplistic either/or thinking (for example, good/bad or nature/nurture). While sex and gender are often seen as binary—male or female, boy or girl, masculine or feminine—we know that sex and gender are too complex to fit into binaries. Both exist along a spectrum, with trans and intersex people as two examples of the nonbinary nature of sex and gender.
Blended family: A blended family is formed when two partners come together to form a family that includes one or more children from previous relationships.
Cisgender: Cisgender people have gender identities that correspond to their assigned sex at birth. If an individual's gender identity does not correspond with their sex at birth, then that individual would most likely be considered transgender.
Coming out: Coming out is the process of sharing one’s LGBTQ+ identity with others. It is a highly personal process that unfolds in different ways depending on an individual's identity and context, which can range from accepting and supportive to threatening and sometimes dangerous. The ability to come out and live authentically is a basic human right that is not always afforded to LGBTQ+ people. Coming out is also viewed as a colonial phenomenon. In many indigenous and colonized cultures, acceptance and celebration are the norm—and this has been true for centuries. Coming out can be viewed as a response to the oppression and shame that were introduced by colonizers, and it may be an irrelevant concept where LGBTQIA, Indigenous and Two-Spirit people continue to be welcomed and celebrated. Finally, coming out is a concept that some people reject: Rather than placing responsibility on LGBTQ+ people to come out to others, many believe in the concept of "inviting in," which gives LGBTQ+ individuals the power and choice to choose who they want to share their sexuality or gender identity with. This concept supports the idea that sexuality and gender identity are ours to share. Coming out gives others the power to accept or reject LGBTQ+ individuals as they "confess" their identities to those around them. The act of "inviting in"—on the other hand—enables LGBTQ+ individuals to reclaim their power by sharing essential parts of their identities with those who have earned their trust.
Co-parenting rights: Co-parenting involves an arrangement that enables parents to raise their children jointly following a divorce. Co-parenting rights are a part of the legal divorce process in parts of the U.S., where divorce cases begin with the assumption that each parent will retain 50/50 custody and placement of the children.
Degendering: Degendering eliminates gender references (including stereotypes and biases) in practices or settings where gender should not be a determining factor. For example, degendering a pretend-play area might involve increasing the number of pretend-play and clothing options that any child can select, rather than dividing options into girl/boy categories. Degendering helps reduce the harmful effects of gender stereotypes, which are present in every context throughout our lives and are associated with both mental and physical health concerns. There is no single way to degender our classrooms and activities: In some cases, we might seek to reduce separation by gender. In others, we might aim to achieve gender neutrality. See our glossary definition for gender-neutral.
Detransition: See our glossary definition for transition.
Discrimination: Discrimination is the unequal treatment of individuals based on their identities or some other identifiable characteristic.
Equity: Equity refers to both fairness and justice when applied together. Equity differs from equality, which refers to everyone having access to the same rights and opportunities. Equity is rooted in the understanding that each individual starts from a different place and that adjustments must be made on an individual basis to address imbalances that stem from injustice, prejudice or a lack of access.
Explicit and implicit harm: Explicit harm is the result of actions that cause immediate—and often observable—negative consequences for the harmed individual. An example might be physical harm or observable emotional distress. Implicit or explicit harm may not be immediately observable and can be cumulative, exacting a toll on an individual's mental health over time.
Gender: Gender refers to an identity that we determine internally. In other words, gender is what we know and feel ourselves to be. Although this self-understanding is informed by the world we live in (and is, therefore, also a social construct that comes with societal expectations that evolve over time), it is, nonetheless, self-determined. Children are conscious of their gender even in early childhood. Over time, this identity may align with the sex they were assigned at birth (cisgender) or with a different gender (transgender). Commit to continued learning about these concepts so that you use and apply them accurately and ethically.
Gendered: Gendered items are intentionally associated with or coded for a specific gender. For example, when we design clothing and toys intended for girls with the color pink, and those for boys with the color blue, we have gendered the clothing and toys. The way things are gendered often changes over time; for example, the gendering of colors to connote gender stereotypes is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Gender-affirming care: Gender-affirming care is rooted in two beliefs. The first is that each individual has the autonomy to declare and express their gender. The second is that others have a responsibility to affirm, protect and support that individual's autonomy and expression. Gender-affirming care is a family of practices that affirm and support the gender journey of each child. These practices are widely supported by medical professionals, including pediatric physicians. In early childhood, a gender-affirming approach to care may include respecting the autonomy of children to declare their gender, ensuring that we listen to children and affirm their interests and choices as they unfold (rather than trying to predict the future), and acting to interrupt bias when we experience it. (genderjusticeinearlychildhood.com.)
Gender bias: Gender bias exists when individuals receive special treatment or unearned advantages based on their gender. It can also refer to unfair disadvantages associated with gender, as well as the conscious or unconscious beliefs that lead to them.
Gender binary: See our glossary definition for binary.
Gender diversity: Gender diversity is (and always has been) a reality of our diverse world, in which gender is a complex and individually determined identity rather than a fixed, assigned, binary category. Gender diversity is sometimes referred to as gender expansiveness. See our glossary definition for gender-expansive.
Gender-expansive: Gender-expansive is a broad term used to refer to people (including children) whose gender expression or identity transcends the stereotypes of the male/female gender binary.
Gender exploration: Gender exploration refers to the typical, predictable and developmentally appropriate actions of young children as they seek to understand and explore gender through their play and everyday interactions. At times, very young children may not acknowledge or even recognize that they are exploring gender. Often, adults are the ones who label it as such and either support or restrict the natural curiosity of children as they construct a system of beliefs about various types of toys, play and expression.
Gender expression: Gender expression is our outward presentation of gender through physical appearance (clothing, hair, makeup, body characteristics) and our actions (behavior, body language, voice). Gender expression can take infinite forms and is not necessarily associated with the gender binary.
Gender identity: Gender is who we know ourselves to be. Gender identity may or may not be related to our anatomy. If our gender identity matches the sex that we were assigned at birth, then we are "cisgender." If our gender identity is different from our assigned sex at birth, we generally use the term "transgender." Gender exists along a spectrum, meaning that there are many gender identities that fall between the opposite ends of the binary male/female spectrum. Gender is a social construct, meaning that humans have assigned meaning and value to gender.
Gender-justice model (or intersectional gender constellation): This model utilizes aspects of the genderbread person and gender-web models. In addition, it recognizes that the individual characteristics and aspects of gender do not exist in a vacuum. Groups, communities and systems also affect and exercise their power to either support or oppress and marginalize trans and gender-expansive (TGE) people. Models such as this one were created in part to empower individuals to understand and express ideas about their own gender and the way that it intersects with multiple other aspects of their identities and experiences.
Gender models: This term refers to the various conceptual models developed to explain and capture the complexity of gender. See our glossary definitions for genderbread person/genderbread unicorn, gender web and intersectional gender constellation.
Gender neutral: We say that something is gender neutral when it has no apparent gender or no relationship to gender. For example, a gender-neutral doll would have no features to identify it as a particular gender, while blocks can be considered gender-neutral because they do not have a gender.
Gender nonconforming: People or their behavior are referred to as gender nonconforming when they do not align with prevailing gender stereotypes. Because this term is associated with conformity and the gender binary, other terms—such as gender-expansive—have emerged as alternatives.
Gender stereotypes: Gender stereotypes are established and limiting ideas or expectations about how someone should behave according to their assumed or assigned gender. These stereotypes may include ideas about how people of a certain gender should behave, look or dress. They may also extend to the types of roles/jobs/play that people engage in or what opportunities they should be afforded. These stereotypes are generally harmful regardless of gender.
Gender web: This model for understanding gender consists of four dimensions: nature, nurture, culture, and time. These dimensions form a “web” upon which individual people may plot their personal characteristics in wholly unique ways.
Genderbread person/gender unicorn: The genderbread person is a model for visually representing and understanding the concept of gender in a form similar to that of a gingerbread person. The fourth iteration of this model was created by Sam Killerman in 2018 and includes gender identity, gender expression, anatomical sex, and attraction as the critical dimensions of an individual’s gender. The gender unicorn is a more recent response to the genderbread person that extends beyond the male/female binary. (Trans Student Educational Resources, 2015.)
Heteronormativity: Heteronormativity refers to the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and cisgender and that this is the most "natural" or "normal" form of human sexuality. Heteronormativity may be intentional or unconscious and structural, and results in the devaluing and marginalization of people who do not fit this narrow principle. Heteronormativity perpetuates discrimination against LGBTQ+ people (American Psychological Association, 2023).
Hijra: The hijras comprise one subgroup of the Indian subcontinent’s diverse transgender population. Hijras have been a part of South Asian culture for millennia. They are represented in sacred texts, participate in religious ceremonies, and occupy positions in the courts. The hijras were criminalized under British Colonial rule and their health and welfare have been threatened ever since. While discrimination, violence and poverty still plague the hijras, they were legally recognized as entitled to equal rights in 2014—and they continue to hold cultural and religious significance for many Indians.
Homophobia: Homophobia refers to bias against or hatred toward LGBTQ+ people. We often refer to someone as homophobic if they harbor this hatred. Homophobia also refers to hateful or discriminatory acts committed against members of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite containing the word phobia, homophobia is not a legitimate fear.
Hypervigilance: Living in an elevated state of stress in which one continually evaluates possible perceived threats in one's environment. This is not uncommon among people who have experienced trauma or discrimination, including LGBTQ+ people.
Inclusion: Inclusion is a term used to describe the practice of increasing access, meaningful participation and support for those who might otherwise be excluded and marginalized. Inclusion is often discussed in the field of education in relation to students with disabilities and developmental delays, who were (and, in some cases, still are) denied an appropriate education alongside their peers. Inclusion can also be used to refer to practices that support LGBTQ+ children and families.
Indigenous third-gender identities: This umbrella term includes many diverse identities from around the world that predate Christian European colonization. These identities have existed on every continent and throughout recorded history—and many (although not all) have historically been held in high regard. Examples of these identities include māhū (Tahiti and Hawaii), hijre (Indian subcontinent), muxe (Mexico), and two-spirit (Native American). Although the term "third gender" is used to categorize these identities, many evolved outside of the gender binary and serve as evidence of the gender complexity that colonization actively attempted to erase. Many indigenous gender identities are still marginalized today.
Intersex: Intersex refers to individuals who are born with sex or reproductive organs that do not fit binary ideas about what is male or female. Nearly 2% of children are born intersex and—while this category is naturally occurring, incredibly diverse and often distinct from the sex/gender binary—doctors will assign a sex in order to “normalize” and erase the complexity of their biology and identity. The autonomy of intersex individuals is routinely violated, and they are often subjected to surgery and other medical interventions in order to conform with adults’ "best guesses" as to their eventual sex/gender.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality refers to the ways in which multiple forms of inequality and injustice intersect and affect people in unique and complex ways based on their identities. Coined by civil rights scholar Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, the term "intersectionality" originally referred to the ways in which gender and racial bias/inequality intersect to create unique and complex experiences of harm when they occur together. More recently, people have expanded the use of the term to refer to many different combinations of intersecting oppressed identities.
LGBTQ+: LGBTQ+ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning—as well as all of the other identities that are part of this large spectrum. The + aims to hold space for other emerging or underrepresented identities. LGBTQIA+ is often used as a more inclusive version of the term that acknowledges Intersex people, Asexual identities and Allies. Two-spirit people are often identified as "2S" either at the beginning (2SLGBTQIA+) or the end (LGBTQIA2S+) of the acronym. Many versions of these initials exist: In Early Pride Matters, LGBTQ+ was selected for easier reading. LGBTQ+ is meant to be an inclusive term, but we acknowledge that it is not universally considered as such.
LGBTQIA+: See LGBTQ+.
LGBTQ+ led family: See our glossary definition for Rainbow family.
Māhū: Māhū is a term used in Tahitian and Native Hawaiian culture to refer to individuals who are a mixture of both male and female in mind, heart and spirit. The term māhū does not represent a single group or identity but a culture in which individuals exist beyond the concept of gender and hold a variety of community roles (including artists, historians and healers). You can read more about this history in the children’s book, Kapaemahu, by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson and illustrated by Daniel Sousa.
Misgendering: This term refers to the accidental or intentional use of the wrong pronouns when talking with or about another person.
Muxe: The muxe (pronounced MOO-shay) are a recognized group of individuals from Southern Mexico who exist outside of binary ideas about gender. Typically, they are identified as male at birth but display traditionally feminine characteristics and dress. However, muxe individuals are defined by their identities and roles rather than their dress. They existed before colonialism and have survived in spite of colonial oppression and erasure. They serve many different roles in Oaxacan culture, and while they face discrimination and sometimes ostracization, they stand as examples of the complexity of gender identity and expression in cultures around the world.
Nonbinary: Nonbinary refers to anything for which binary categories do not apply. There may be gray areas, or some in-between or nuance, or the phenomenon may exist on a spectrum. Sex and gender are both examples of things that are, or can be, nonbinary. Nonbinary also refers to a person’s identity: Many people identify as nonbinary, meaning that they identify outside of male/female, masculine/feminine constructs. There are many other terms that people might use to describe their nonbinary identities, such as genderqueer, gender-expansive, gender-nonconforming, gender-creative, or gender-fluid. Different terms resonate with different people. If you are unsure about how an individual defines their gender identity, simply ask in a respectful way.
Orientation: Orientation refers to each person's innate sense of emotional and romantic attraction to other people. While the term sexual orientation is most frequently used, orientation is a much broader concept that covers many facts of human attraction and relationships. Orientation and gender identity are distinct concepts; one does not determine the other.
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion about a group of people based on their membership in that group. Prejudices are conscious and irrational, rooted in biases and feelings rather than facts.
Pride: Pride has many meanings in the LGBTQ+ community. It refers to a month of celebration and is associated with many different symbols. On the Early Pride Matters website, Pride usually refers to the affirmed dignity and value of LGBTQ+ people.
Queer: Queer is an umbrella term for anyone who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Many people choose to use the term “queer” rather than a more specific identity as it is all-encompassing. “Queer” has historically been used in a derogatory manner, as an insult. However, the community has “taken it back” and repurposed its power to represent pride and inclusion.
Rainbow family: In a Rainbow family, one or both parents or caregivers identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or another identity on the spectrum of gender and/or queerness. Each family is unique in its structure, assets, needs, and relationships.
Representation: Representation means that educators, curricula and educational materials reflect the demographics and diversity of the children and families they serve. When children and families are represented in this way, they often feel more included, more engaged in learning and more empowered as individuals.
Safe spaces: Safe spaces are designed to be supportive and non-threatening for LGBTQ+ individuals (and other marginalized groups) and provide opportunities for these individuals to experience comfort and express themselves freely. Although these spaces are designed to protect marginalized individuals from harassment, discrimination and other forms of harm, intended safe spaces are not always safe.
Second-parent adoption rights: Where second-parent adoption is allowed, the partner or spouse of a parent can adopt their child without causing the parent to lose parental rights of any kind. Second-parent adoption rights also ensure that both parents have equal legal rights and responsibilities, which will come into play when parents are making decisions about a child's healthcare, education, inheritance, and other important matters.
Sex: Sex is a "multidimensional biological construct based on anatomy, physiology, genetics, and hormones" (National Institute of Health, 2023). Often, the word "sex" is used to refer to whether our body parts say we are male or female. However, intersex children are just one example of why this definition (rooted in a binary) is too simplistic. Other times, people will state that our chromosomes determine whether our sex is male or female. However, this is also too simplistic, as many people have unique chromosomal variations that again challenge binary thinking. It is probably more reflective of reality to say that, when children are born, adults assign a sex at birth and largely assume that the child's gender will align with that determination. While this decision continues to be made using a male/female binary, the practice of dividing humans into these two categories based on physiology or biology is not supported by human diversity or research. These ideas about sex are a simplification of the incredible complexity and diversity of humans’ internal and external features and functions.
Stereotypes: Stereotypes are beliefs that a group of people all possess a certain characteristic. Stereotypes are fixed ideas that generally fail to reflect reality in its dynamic diversity.
Third-gender: Third-gender generally refers to groups of people who exist outside the gender binary. For examples of third-gender people, see our Glossary definitions for indigenous third gender identities, hijra, māhū, muxe, and two-spirit. Keep in mind that these are but a few of the third-gender groups that exist around the world.
Trans and Gender Expansive (TGE): TGE is a broad term that refers to all children who explore and express gender in ways that challenge simplistic ideas about these concepts (such as the gender binary). (Keo-Meier & Ehrensaft, 2018.)
Transgender: We say someone is transgender when their gender identity—who they know themselves to be—is different from the gender that was previously assigned to them. Many identities fall under the umbrella of transgender.
Transition: Transition, or gender affirmation, refers to the highly individual process of making changes in order to live one’s life in alignment with one’s gender identity. This process can include changes in pronouns, dress, name, and other expressions of gender identity. Transition is supported through gender-affirming care, which is designed to meet each individual’s needs. Transition can also involve hormone therapy or medical procedures. There is no one way to transition, nor is there a preferred or “right” way to transition. Detransitioning refers to the process of reversing gender transition and is the right of the individual. While research on gender-affirming care that does not involve surgery is rare, the regret or detransition rate for adults who elect to have gender-affirming surgery is quite low (estimated at 0.3 to 1%).
Transphobia: Transphobia refers to bias against or hatred toward trans people. This can refer to a person’s attitudes and actions against trans people. Despite containing the word phobia, transphobia is not a legitimate fear.
Two-spirit: Two-spirit is a term used in many Native American cultures. It is an umbrella term referring to people who identify as having both a masculine and feminine spirit. While the definitions and roles of two-spirit people vary between nations, they were—and still are—held in high honor.