People Often Ask – The difference between gender identity, gender expression, and biological sex

People Often Ask

Is gender identity influenced by hormones, or is it purely in your head?

Gender identity is your internal sense of who you are – that part is psychological and social, not a simple hormone level. There is research suggesting that prenatal hormone exposure and brain development might play some role in how gender identity forms, especially in trans people, but it is not a neat 'high testosterone = man' equation. If it were, every person on testosterone would magically feel like a man, and that is obviously not true.What hormones do strongly influence is how you feel in your body day to day: mood, energy, libido, and how intense dysphoria or euphoria feels. Across your menstrual cycle, for example, dysphoria or body discomfort can spike in the luteal and menstrual phases when hormones crash. So hormones modulate the experience – but they do not dictate your core identity.

Can your gender identity change over time?

Yes. Sometimes your gender identity shifts; sometimes your language finally catches up to what was always there. You might grow from 'I am a tomboy' to 'I am nonbinary' once you have words and community for it. You might land in 'I am a woman, just not the kind they showed me growing up' after exploring.Big life events and hormonal changes – puberty, pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, starting or stopping birth control, perimenopause – can all bring gender questions to the surface because your relationship with your body changes. That does not mean hormones are 'causing' a new identity; they are just shaking the box you were told to live in.You are allowed to update your labels as you get more data. That is not being flaky; that is being honest.

What is the difference between nonbinary and gender nonconforming?

Nonbinary is a gender identity. It means you do not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. You might feel in‑between, outside, or fluid across genders. Nonbinary people can use any pronouns (they/them, she/they, he/they, etc.) and express their gender in endless ways.Gender nonconforming describes expression, not identity. It just means your appearance or behavior does not match what your culture expects for your assigned sex. A cis woman who never wears makeup and has a shaved head can be gender nonconforming but still identify fully as a woman. A nonbinary person can be very 'traditionally' femme and still be nonbinary.Short version: nonbinary = who you are. Gender nonconforming = how you show up.

How do I support a friend who is questioning their gender while I am still figuring out my own?

You do not need to have your own gender perfectly sorted to be a safe person for someone else. Start simple:- Believe what they tell you about themselves.- Use their name and pronouns, even if they are trying them out.- Do not interrogate their body or medical decisions.You can say, 'I am still figuring out my own gender stuff, but I want to be here for you. Tell me what you need from me.' That honesty builds trust.If their journey triggers your own questions, that is normal. Notice where you feel envy, relief, or curiosity – those are clues about you, not threats. And if both of you want a neutral, judgment‑free space to vent about cycles, dysphoria, or 'is this normal?', you can always bring it to Gush and sort through it together.If you are sitting there with a notes app full of questions, trying to connect the dots between your gender, your period, your birth control, and your relationships, you do not have to overthink it alone. Drop it all on Gush – ask what is normal, unpack patterns, or just let your body rant without getting talked over.