Free Gender Identity Essay Examples & Topics

Free Gender Identity Essay Examples & Topics

148 samples

Everyone has their own unique gender identity. Whether a person identifies as female, male, or outside the binary, everyone has ways of expressing themselves. This gender expression is then measured against socially established gender roles. If the two concepts clash, this can become a source of internal and external conflict.

In recent years, the definition of gender is beginning to change. We now consider it as a social construct. It is dictated by our behavior, presentation, and cultural norms. The language surrounding this concept is also evolving. Here our experts have explored some terms that will help you understand gender identity.

Cisgender applies to a person whose identity aligns with the sex that they were assigned at birth. In contrast, transgender refers to a person whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex.

Non-binary describes people whose gender identity lies outside the established man/woman dichotomy. This umbrella term covers a broad number of identities, such as genderfluid, genderqueer, agender, etc.

We have collected advice that will help you in writing your gender identity essay. After all, even when writing about a personal experience, you need to approach the subject thoughtfully. We have also created a list of topics. They will help you compose different types of essays about gender identity.

Essay about Gender Identity: 6 Tips

Doesn’t matter whether you are writing a gender expression essay or a paper about identity. You still have to follow a defined structure. Here we have summarized how to organize your work process best and create an effective outline.

You can start with the following tips:

1. Brainstorm. The most critical step in writing a successful essay is to establish what ideas you already have. Perhaps you are thinking about focusing on gender equality? Or maybe about the differences between masculinity and femininity? Jot down your thoughts on paper and see where that takes you.

2. Get a topic. As soon as you have an idea of the direction you’re heading, start thinking about wording. Keep in mind that you have to narrow down from a broad list of potential subjects. The matter of gender identity is infinitely complex, so choose a single aspect to focus on. Try our topic generator so that it can come up with an idea for you.

3. Research your idea. This is perhaps the step that will take you the longest. To successfully write a compelling essay, you should have a large number of credible sources. Most of the information you need will be available online. Yet, try referring to books and journal articles too. Check for the availability of your resources before you settle on a topic.

4. Come up with a thesis. Here is where you might want to look over all the information you have compiled so far. Refer to your chosen topic and create a thesis statement. It is the main argument that you are trying to make in your essay. So, be concise and precise.

5. Outline your paper. From writing down the title to forming your conclusions, everything in your essay should be pre-planned. Start with writing down your introduction using your thesis statement. Afterward, you may want to note down what you will talk about in the body paragraphs. Don’t forget that using statistics, examples, and quotes can make your essay sound more solid. Finally, summarize your findings and restate your thesis in your conclusion. For this, you can use our online summarizer. Now that you have a rough draft, writing will be much easier.

6. Revise & proofread. When you are done writing, it is time for editing. Many students choose to skip over revising and proofreading, believing that it is not necessary. This is not the case. Your true potential opens up only after you edit your paper and compare it to the writing criteria. Make sure to read through your work at least once.

Amazing Gender Identity Essay Topics

After reading our tips, you may still have a vital question. What should be the topic of my essay on gender identity? We are here to help.

Feel free to make use of these 15 gender identity topics:

  1. What is gender expression, and how does it feed into gender stereotypes?
  2. The intersection between race and gender identity.
  3. Why are feminine traits frowned upon while masculine ones are uplifted?
  4. Gender identity in society today.
  5. The history of nonbinary gender identities in the West.
  6. Gender identity development – a psychological study.
  7. The third gender – a study of nonbinary gender identities of the past.
  8. Presentation of gender identity in modern media.
  9. What is gender performativity, and how does it help shape gender identities?
  10. The contrast between gender identity and gender role.
  11. Gender as a spectrum: what lies between masculinity and femininity.
  12. Dysphoria – a gender identity disorder.
  13. Breaking down the concept of heteronormativity concerning gender.
  14. The historical evolution of the female gender identity.
  15. Understanding equality in terms of gender identity.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you found these tips useful, and we wish you the best in your academic work. If you still find yourself at a loss, read through our sample essays on gender identity below.

148 Best Essay Examples on Gender Identity

Role of Men in Society Essay

Men are expected to take up arms and protect the children and women in the society. Men are expected to demonstrate fearlessness in the face of danger and stand up to adversity.
  • 2.9
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 881

“What Is a Homosexual?” by Andrew Sullivan

According to Sullivan's essay What is a Homosexual, homosexuality is the isolation from the rest of the society and a diversity of human sexuality; however, it is not a factor which people are guided by [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 550

LGBTQ Co-Culture: The Key Aspects

While all people have sexual orientation and heterosexuality presuppose romantic and sexual attachment to people of the opposite sex, gay and lesbian individuals are attached to partners of the same sex.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1462

Raising Gender-Neutral Children

The major claim of gender-neutral parenting supporters is that it is important to raise a child in a gender-free environment with a focus on the health and happiness of a child.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1005

Gender Identity

The influence of biological factors on gender identity can be explained by considering functions of hormones and cerebral lateralization of the brain.
  • 1.8
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 840

The Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage

Counteracting the argument that prohibition of gay marriage appears similar to discrimination is the idea that marriage, in the traditional understanding of the word, is the union of necessarily different sexes, a man and a [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1093

LGBTQ+ Discrimination in Professional Settings

The researchers studied the impact of systematic inequalities that LGBTQ individuals experience within the STEM field, including career limitations, harassment, and professional devaluation.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 625

Intersexuality from Ethical Perspectives

Despite the established tradition, recent research findings indicate that gender identity depends on the structure and functions of the brain, as well as the hormonal composition, and has nothing to do with the form of [...]
  • 1
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2117

Social Issues Affecting Women

Women and family Stability/Disintegration The role of women in family stability and disintegration is another social issue affecting women in society. Women are considered as the core managers of stability and security in the family.
  • 1
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1397

Gender Inequality in Social Media

Research shows that teenagers from the age of thirteen use social media to discuss the physical appearances of girls and exchange images with sexual content.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 843

Sociological perspectives of Gender Inequality

The events taking place in the modern world and the occurrence of the feminist movements during the past few decades can be used to offer a deeper understanding on the subject of gender inequality and [...]
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2339

School Counseling & Problem Conceptualization

The ultimatum that the parents of the student present to Janeen may further affect her mental health. The possible reaction of the student's parents to her gender concerns is unknown.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1733

Gender and Conflict in Prisons

The aim of this paper is to discuss the gender differences between incarcerated populations in terms of the likelihood of engaging in violence as well as interpersonal and racial conflicts.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 583

Masculinity and Femininity

Therefore, it is becoming increasingly fashionable to adopt the term masculinity or femininity not only to reflect the modern times, but also to depict the cultural construction and manifestation of masculinity and femininity to closer [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1084

Stereotypes and Their Effects

Three common stereotypes include the perception that Muslims are terrorists, Christians are ignorant, and that women are less intelligent than men.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 563

Amy Zimmerman: It Ain’t Easy Being Bisexual on TV

Some experts also point out the importance of the good evidence that is related to the core thesis of the paper and supports the ideas' persuasiveness; this criterion was, likewise, included in the list.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1417

Therapeutic Methods Applied to LGBTQ+ Clients

A central tenet of affirmative therapy is recognizing the unique and varied perspectives of human experiences in order to destigmatize and depathologize the emotions, attitudes, and needs of sexual and gender minority individuals.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 844

Gay Couples’ Problems: Gary and Jorge’s Case

The problem is that Gary and Jorge are in an open relationship which has the possibility of betrayal, and that is diagnosed when Gary says that Jorge frequently limits him from association with other people [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1412

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

The problem of direct discrimination in the setting of hiring is represented in the article "Discrimination Against Gays and Lesbians in Hiring Decisions: A Meta-analysis" by Flage.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 830

LBGT (Queer)-Specific Mental Health Interventions

The scholarly article "The Availability of LGBT-Specific Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment in the United States" by Williams and Fish focuses on whether LGBT individuals receive adequate mental health and substance abuse treatment.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1119

Sociological Perspective on Intersex Babies

Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, another strategy would be to provide medical interventions that are customized to the unique needs and preferences of the child and their family.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 253

Mental Health Issues Among LGBTQ (Queer) Youth

Studies point to multiple factors that play a role in the risk of suicide among LGBTQ youth, such as gender, socioeconomic status, bullying, and school experience. There is a need for further research and interventions [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 827

Influence of Domestic Roles on Femininity

From the very beginning of reading and analyzing this part of the book, it is possible to trace the importance women had in the family and how it could affect the girls growing up in [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1126

Bisexuality: The Social Stereotypes

Some lesbian and gay people have viewed them with suspicions and have termed them as infiltrators who do not belong to their community and cannot be trusted as they are not one of them.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1492

Nature vs. Nurture in the Context of Sexuality

Therefore, sexual expressions, such as being gay, are part of socialization, a life-long process of acquiring and disseminating norms and customs through media, the internet and religion, thus allowing individuals to fit within a particular [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1129

The Third Gender (Fafafines) in Samoa

Fa'afafines are often considered to be the guardians of Samoan culture and tradition. They are often called on to perform religious ceremonies and rituals.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 676

Gender Identity Applied in Human Socialization

Gender identity concept is applied in the socialization and culture of humans. Throughout a person's lifespan, gender socialization transpires in fluctuating contexts such as in school, among parents, or in the media.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 522

Mental Health Equity for Queer (LGBTQ) People

My support for mental health equity in the LGBTQ community as a clinical mental health counselor will require my understanding of cultural competency and how to can use it in practice.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 632

The Transgender Teens Policy Issues

Problem recognition involves recognizing that policies serving to protect the interests of transgender teens need proper enforcement or even proper formulation to ensure effectiveness in protecting and ensuring the best interests of the children.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 275

LGBTQ+ Families: Discrimination and Challenges

The family model directly affects the social status of family members and the well-being of children. LGBTQ+ families' wealth level is lower than that of families in the neighborhood due to labor discrimination.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 677

Aspects of Gender Roles and Identity

The breadth of her practice in transgender issues suggests that every choice Bowers makes is ethical, requiring her to be respectful and highly responsible.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 851

Developing an Affirmative Cognate Therapy

With skilled and knowledgeable counselors and agencies, it is possible to eliminate many of the apprehensions when members of the group are seeking professional services.
  • Pages: 15
  • Words: 4790

Homosexuality as Social Construction

His research has focused on the evolution of homosexuality from the nineteenth century to the present day, the widespread public regulation of homosexuality in Britain, and the ways that allowed sexuality to become the object [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 312

The Meaning of Masculinity in 2020

The way to change the idea of masculinity was not easy, and many people had to go through discrimination and humiliation to change the world for the better.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 626

The Case of Gavin Grimm Within the Context of Sociology

The exploration of the story will provide an opportunity to discuss human sexuality within the context of contemporary culture and sociology. Grimm decided to sue the school board, and the judge ruled in favor of [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1107

Challenges Faced by Queer African American Community

Therefore, when addressing the challenges faced by African Americans, society should also consider the struggles of LGBTQ people in the Black community. In this context, the role of artists, singers, and other public individuals is [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 824

Biological Basis for Sexual Orientation

One of the studies in the 1990s revealed that 64% of the pairs of gay brothers identical genetic material at one end of the X chromosome in the Xq28 region.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 623

Advocacy for Non-Traditional Sexual Orientation

The questions of sexuality and gender are being positioned as urgent as the problems of discrimination by race. To conclude, advocacy for LgGBTQ people is essential for the social development of the world society.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 572

Changes in Women’s Status

In her essay, Barthel states that the role of a woman in the society of the 1990s is still inactive and stationary.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1548

Gender, Class and Race in Household and Paid Work

This paper provides the analysis of how gender affects the labor distribution in both household and paid labor, the role of social class in families, and the impact of race and ethnicity on labor distribution, [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 622

Human Sexuality: the Sex of a Child

If choosing the sex of a child can be done in a manner that does not interfere with the integrity of the pregnancy progression, there could be nothing wrong with it.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 579

Exotic Becomes Erotic Theory Design

His critics argue that the theory neglects women's experiences in addition to the fact that his interpretation of sexual orientation antecedents was greatly misplaced. He admits that his theory had failed to provide a working [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 785

Gender and Perception of Police Work

The group that is often subject to less satisfaction is of extreme importance to the various persons interested in the study of community satisfaction with the police.
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2515

Feminist Psychology in Canada

The introduction of the article gives the purposes of the research that include the historical and present condition of the psychology of women field of interest.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 590

Societal Attitudes Toward Homosexuality

Therefore, people should not be homophobic but should try as much as possible to learn and understand the reasons as they interact with these people.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 519

Sexual Orientation Development

That implies the truth of the differences in the sexual orientation of male and female."The challenge of sexual orientation in women and understanding how biological influences function in women remains to be adequately addressed"..
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1542

Myths of Gender and Sexual Orientation

Anne Fausto-Sterling and Evan Balaban have said in Dean Hamer's 1993 report that the scientific debate about the origins of homosexuality is taking place in the midst of a highly political one about the place [...]
  • Pages: 10
  • Words: 2803

Homosexuality: Explanations of Origins and Causes

Seen from the perspective of sexual orientation, homosexuality is "a lasting pattern of or inclination to encounter sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions predominantly to people of the same sex; it also relates to an individual's [...]
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1914

The Conference “Women as Global Leaders”

Frankly speaking, I presume, that women are not able to place the positions of the leaders totally, and they would still need the help of men in ruling the world, but I expect to get [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 513

Different Aspects of Gender Identity

Psychologist began the work of studying gender identity in the late 1950s when they established the first gender research project and developed a lot of theories of gender identify.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 826

Gender Identity: Modernity and the Witch Hunts

Women were subjected to slavery during the 16th and 17th centuries as witch-hunt focused on disempowering them in society. Witch-hunt caused the mistreatment of women as social outcasts and subjected them to forced labor in [...]
  • Pages: 12
  • Words: 3330

Girls’ Sexuality Issues in American Schools

The author of the article analyzes the causes and outcomes of the stereotyped gender perception framework existing in the educational institutions and the society which leads to disadvantaged school experiences or even suicidal cases.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 320

Human Sexuality. Social Problems of Queer People

It means that the stigmatization associated with same-sex relationships still exists and that there is a situation where it is simpler for gay and lesbian adolescents not to accept their sexual orientation.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 643

Growing Up Transgender: Malisa’s Story on NBC News

It is essential to develop a better understanding of the concept of gender in relation to children and their development to ensure the protection of the interests of all people and, thus, improve their lives.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 392

Masculinity as a Social Norms Issue

However, the advancements that occurred with the rise of the LGBT movement and the empowerment of women now challenge established ideas.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1115

Gender Experience and Identity in the Social Context

Due to the influence of the patriarchal society in which I was born and raised, I identify myself rather rigidly and have a strong idea of gender normativity as the foundational principle of social roles [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1144

Androgyny in “Glory This” by Michelle Moo

The ethical framework established in the capitalist era discouraged the distinction between the private and public perception of the self in terms of gender and the publicly assigned characteristics to males and females.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 826

Homosexual Religious and Legal Rights

Another recommendation is that the legal structures that govern the issue of homosexuality should be coherent and considerate. Conclusively, it is evident that legal and religious provisions differ remarkably on their stands regarding the matters [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 855

Sociological Imagination of Homosexuality

This is due to the commonality of problems that we may have as members of a given society. I did not know whether the signs I was exhibiting were that of a homosexual or it [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 602

Media Influences on Gender Identities: Consuming Kids

One of the most disturbing things about consumerism, however, is that it affects people's perception of gender and, therefore, contributes to the creation of stereotypes that make the relationship between men and women even more [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 605

Changing Gender Roles Between Boys and Girls

In the twenty-first Century, girls have greatly stepped up and assumed some of the roles that were considered to be boy's while boys have done the same leading to an interchange of roles.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1676
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