Bigender: Meaning, Identity, Pronouns, and Gender Expression

For example, someone may feel that they are both a woman and a nonbinary person. Another person may experience themselves as a man at some times and as agender at others. Someone else may consistently experience two genders together.

There is no required combination, pattern, appearance, or set of pronouns for being bigender.

• She is bigender.
• He described himself as a bigender man.
• They have a bigender identity.
• The group included bigender and genderfluid people.

It may also be used informally as a noun, although bigender person is often clearer and more respectful:

• She is a bigender person.
• Some bigender people use more than one pronoun set.

The word combines the prefix bi-, meaning “two,” with gender.

The spelling bigender is generally more common than bi-gender.

A person may experience their two genders:

• simultaneously;
• alternately;
• in a repeating pattern;
• unpredictably;
• with one gender stronger than the other;
• differently in private and social settings;
• as stable throughout life;
• as changing over time.

For some people, the two genders remain clearly separate. For others, they blend or overlap.

No single experience is required for the label to be valid.

Possible combinations may include:

• man and woman;
• woman and nonbinary;
• man and agender;
• two nonbinary genders;
• demigirl and demiboy;
• a culturally specific gender and another gender;
• another personally meaningful combination.

Gender labels are tools for self-description. Two people who use the word bigender may understand their identities differently.

Bigender is often considered a specific type of nonbinary identity because it includes more than one gender experience.

However, not every bigender person uses the word nonbinary. Some may identify as transgender, some may use both labels, and others may simply call themselves bigender.

Individuals choose the labels that best fit their experience.

A bigender person may experience movement between two genders and also identify as genderfluid. However, the terms are not identical:

• Bigender specifies an identity involving two genders.
• Genderfluid emphasizes change or movement between gender experiences.
• A genderfluid person may experience more than two genders.
• A bigender person may experience both genders continuously without fluidity.

A person may use one label, both labels, or neither.

Bigender involves two genders specifically.

The difference is therefore mainly about the number and scope of gender identities included. However, personal definitions may vary, and identity labels should not be imposed on someone from the outside.

• Bigender concerns gender identity.
• Bisexual concerns sexual or romantic attraction.

A bigender person may be bisexual, heterosexual, gay, lesbian, asexual, pansexual, or use another orientation label.

The prefix bi- appears in both words, but the identities are not the same.

Intersex refers to variations in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, reproductive anatomy, or genital development, that do not fit typical definitions of exclusively male or female bodies.

An intersex person may be bigender, but being intersex does not automatically determine gender identity. Likewise, a bigender person does not need to be intersex.

It should not be treated as a general synonym for bigender. A non-Indigenous person should not adopt Two-Spirit merely because they experience two genders.

Bigender is a broader contemporary gender label without the same cultural and historical meaning.

Someone may express their identity through:

• masculine clothing;
• feminine clothing;
• androgynous presentation;
• different styles on different days;
• a combination of gendered features;
• no visible change in appearance.

Gender expression does not prove or disprove bigender identity. A person does not need to appear equally masculine and feminine.

• she/her;
• he/him;
• they/them;
• more than one pronoun set;
• neopronouns;
• different pronouns at different times;
• any pronouns.

Some may use one name consistently, while others use different names depending on their gender experience or social setting.

The respectful approach is to use the name and pronouns a person states. It is better to ask politely than to guess from appearance.

Possible sources may include:

• being treated as only one gender;
• having the wrong pronouns used;
• pressure to present in one fixed way;
• discomfort with particular body features;
• lack of recognition for both genders.

Others may experience gender euphoria, a feeling of comfort, happiness, or affirmation when their identity is recognized.

Not every bigender person experiences dysphoria, and dysphoria is not required for the identity to be valid.

Social transition may include:

• changing a name;
• changing pronouns;
• changing clothing or hairstyle;
• asking others to recognize both genders;
• using different gender markers where possible.

Medical transition may include hormones, surgery, voice care, hair removal, or other gender-affirming services. The desired combination differs greatly.

There is no single bigender body or required transition path.

Supportive communication may include asking:

• which words feel affirming;
• which pronouns to use;
• whether preferences change at different times;
• which body terms feel comfortable;
• how the person wants to be described publicly and privately.

Being bigender does not determine sexual behavior, relationship style, or level of sexual desire.

Bigender is the same as bisexual.
Bigender concerns identity; bisexual concerns attraction.

A bigender person must change gender every day.
Some alternate between genders, while others experience both continuously.

Bigender people must use two names or two pronoun sets.
Names and pronouns are individual choices.

Bigender identity is determined by clothing.
Gender expression and gender identity are related but separate.

A person must medically transition to be bigender.
No medical treatment is required for any gender identity.

• bigender person;
• bigender identity;
• identify as bigender;
• openly bigender;
• bigender experience;
• bigender community;
• bigender representation;
• bigender pride.

1. Alex identifies as bigender and experiences two genders simultaneously.
2. A bigender person may use one or several pronoun sets.
3. Bigender does not always mean both man and woman.
4. Their gender expression changed, but their identity remained bigender.
5. She identified as both a woman and a nonbinary person.
6. Bigender and bisexual describe different parts of identity.
7. He asked his friends to use different pronouns at different times.
8. Not every bigender person experiences gender dysphoria.
9. The form allowed people to describe multigender identities.
10. Respecting someone’s stated identity is more appropriate than making assumptions.

However, bigender is not a sexual orientation. It does not indicate whom someone finds attractive, whether they want sex, or what kinds of relationships they prefer.

Respectful sexual and relationship communication recognizes a bigender person’s chosen identity, names, pronouns, body-related language, privacy, boundaries, and individual preferences without treating their gender as a curiosity or fantasy.