Gender Identity Diversity
For centuries, different cultures around the globe have recognised gender diversity in ways that are not in line with the binary of male and female. With this short article I can hopefully demonstrate that gender diversity is deeply embedded in the human life and many different levels.
Many indigenous cultures have long acknowledged more than two genders. In North America, numerous Native American tribes have historically recognised Two-Spirit people, individuals who embody both masculine and feminine traits. These identities were often valued in society, having important roles as healers, mediators, and spiritual leaders.
In South Asia, Hijras have existed for thousands of years. Recognised in Hindu texts and granted legal recognition (more than M and F as gender options in passports) in modern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, hijras often undergo ritualistic ceremonies marking their identity and serve important cultural and religious roles. In Polynesia, the Fa’afafine of Samoa are assigned male at birth but live as women or non-binary individuals, forming a well-established third gender. In Europe the Femminielli and Burrnesha or Tobelija are examples of social gender roles beyond the rigid binary of male and female.
These examples show that gender diversity is not a modern Western construct but a widespread and ancient human reality.
Beyond cultural recognition, science reveals that human biology itself is far more complex than a strict male-female dichotomy.
Intersex conditions, where individuals are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female, occur in about 1.7% of the population, which is comparable to the number of people with naturally red hair. Conditions such as Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) result in individuals with XY chromosomes developing female-typical bodies, while Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) can lead to differences in genital development.
Even at a neurological level, studies suggest that transgender people’s brain structures align more closely with their identified gender than their sex assigned at birth. Hormonal influences during foetal development play a crucial role in shaping gender identity, reinforcing that gender is not purely a social construct but a deeply ingrained biological experience.
These advances in biological research have contributed to the reclassification of gender dysphoria (ICD-10) and gender incongruence from a psychiatric condition to a condition related to sexual health in the ICD-11. This shift also reflects the de-pathologisation of gender expansiveness and the transgender experience.
Recognising gender diversity in both historical and biological contexts affirms that trans and non-binary identities are natural variations of the human experience. The persistence of gender-diverse identities across time and cultures, along with scientific insights into the complexity of sex and gender proves this.
By celebrating and affirming the transgender community we embrace the rich diversity that has always existed within humanity.
