Understanding the diversity of sex and gender – the different, independent dimensions of sex and gender at a glance
This is an English translation of the core concepts of the «Geschlechter-Radar» – but not a translation of the whole German Site. There is also English material for download below. In German, the word «Geschlecht» is used for sex and for gender.
Dimensions of Sex & Gender
Sex & gender has several dimensions:
We can distinguish five dimensions:
- Body: sex characteristics
- Identity: gender identity
- Expression: gender expression
- Attraction: sexual / romantic orientation
- Role: gender role
Sex/gender is biopsychosocial:
We can differentiate sex/gender and sexual (romantic) orientation:
Some dimensions are more about LGBTQIA+ and one is more about feminism (everything together: queer-feminism – see also normative & expansive below):
Normative and Expansive Expressions
The LGBTQIA+ community often uses words like trans, cis, gender-nonconforming, etc. If we understand that the five dimensions of gender have normative and expansive manifestations, then we can situate these terms much better.
Each dimension of the radar has «normative expressions» (conforms to social norms) and «expansive expressions» (expands social norms):
- Body: endosex (also dyadic) and intersex bodies (sex characteristics)
- Gender identity: cisgender und transgender people
- Gender expressions: gender-conforming and gender-nonconforming appearances
- Attraction: hetero and queer attractions
- Gender role: traditional und feminist roles of gender
Different kinds of trans people:
| Sex ascribed at birth | Gender identity | Description specific | Description general |
|---|---|---|---|
| female | male | trans man | man |
| male | female | trans woman | woman |
| female or male | non-binary | non-binary person | person |
Sex and Gender as a Spectrum
Each of the five dimensions also contains a continuous spectrum.
This is a view also represented in a similar way by these models: Gender-Unicorn and Genderbread-Person.
Downloads
Various parts of the radar, fact sheets, etc. (graphics in PNG & PDF format):
- Dimensions of sex & gender graphics EN [ZIP-archive 4 files]
- Graphics normative + expansive EN [ZIP-archive 4 files]
- Table trans persons EN [ZIP-archive 2 files]
- Factsheet PDF normative + expansive EN [PDF file]
- Graphics sex and gender as a spectrum EN [ZIP-archive 2 files]
Copyright notice: For non-commercial use, the unmodified visualizations and the fact sheet may be used freely (with credit: source: www.geschlechter-radar.org). For other uses please contact me.
Further reading
- Website: Gender Unicorn (from TSER – Trans Student Educational Resources)
- Website: Genderbread Person (from Sam Killermann)
- Book: Gender: A Graphic Guide (by Meg-John Barker & Jules Scheele)
- Book: The Spectrum of Sex (by Hida Viloria & Maria Nieto)
About the Radar
The «Geschlechter-Radar» is a project by Evianne Hübscher [personal website in German]. Evianne runs the Swiss website nonbinary.ch [in German], and advises organizations as well as individuals on gender diversity with a focus on non-binary gender.
- Contact Evianne: contact form
- LinkedIn: profile Evianne Hübscher
Text: Evianne Hübscher | Erste Veröffentlichung: 17.8.2022 | Letztes Update: 31.10.2024