Commom Terms Used

Gender refers to an individual's own conception of being male or female. It

includes the role a person takes in social interactions and the way they feel
about themselves.
Therefore gender involves a person's internal feelings (gender identity) as
well as the way they express this externally (gender role). Gender is
largely culturally determined. It is assigned at birth based on the sex of the
individual.
Sex refers to the biological status, as male or female. It includes physical
attributes such as sex chromosomes, sexual hormones, reproductive
organs and external genitalia.
"Sex is what you have between your legs.
Gender is what you have between your ears!"
Gender dysphoria is anxiety, uncertainty and pervasive feelings of
discomfort experienced by an individual about their assigned gender which
is in conflict with their internal gender (gender identity).
Transgender describes someone who does not fit into the standard male
or female gender patterns accepted in society. It is an umbrella term which
includes transvestites, transsexuals, female and male impersonators, drag
kings and drag queens, intersexuals, gender dysphorics and those that do
not fit any "standard" gender label.
Transsexuals are people who have a strong and persistent feeling that
they are living as the wrong sex, accompanied with a pervasive and
overwhelming desire to change their gender role (transition) and fulfil their
life as a member of the opposite gender. Most transsexuals actively seek
treatment to permanently change their physical appearance, including
hormones and gender reassignment surgery.
A transman or a transwoman is a term used by some transsexuals who
are open about their gender identity and are happy to reveal that they have
transitioned to the opposite gender role.
A transvestite (also known as a cross-dresser) is a person who adopts the
clothes and, occasionally, the behaviour of the opposite sex.
Transvestism is primarily practised by men (probably because it is more

acceptable for women to wear men's clothing). It is a misconception that

cross-dressing is always fetishistic and performed for sexual arousal.
There are many different categories, including drag kings/queens,
fetishistic (for sexual stimulation) and shaman (religious figures in certain
cultures).
Intersex individuals are people born with ambiguous genitalia which can
sometimes lead to gender dyshporia. The condition may be due to certain
hereditary (genetic) disorders or hormone imbalances during pregnancy.
Hermaphrodites, who have both types of sexual organs, are very rare.
Transition is the process that a trans person undergoes to move from their
assigned gender role to their chosen gender. This involves physical,
psychological and social aspects. The time is takes varies from individual
to individual. If it involves gender reassigment surgery, it will encompass
the Real Life Experience, living in their acquired gender role for a minimum
of one to two years.
The Real Life Experience, sometimes known as the Real Life Test, is the
process where trans people live in their gender role for a period of time in
order to demonstrate that they can function in their preferred role. It is a
significant hurdle for most people and historically was a prerequisite to
receive permission for hormone treatment and gender reassignment
surgery.
http://transgenderexplored.com/terms.htm