Sexual orientation? Gender identity? What's the difference?

Know your LGBTIQ+ terms! Using the genderbread person, we explain what's meant by sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

We support and empower adolescents in all their diversity! Take a look at the work we're doing on LGBTIQ+ inclusion - https://plan-international.org/sexual-health/lgbtiq-inclusion

The video was developed as part of the project "Strengthening Plan International's Support to Young LGBTIQ+ adolescents" supported by Svenska Postkodlotteriet (Sweden).

Plan International is committed
to achieving gender equality

and fostering an inclusive society.

We support and empower adolescents
in all their diversity,

regardless of their gender,
ability, ethnicity,

or any other identity.

This includes sexual orientation,

gender identity,

gender expression and sex characteristics,

or SOGIESC for short.

But what actually is SOGIESC?

Let's break it down,
using the SOGIESC person.

This helps us understand

that each of the individual terms
has a different meaning,

and combined, they make up
a person's SOGIESC identity.

Let's start with sexual orientation.

This is shown as the heart,

as it's about who you are emotionally,
physically, and sexually attracted to.

One person might be attracted to someone
of a different gender to themselves.

For example, a woman
who is heterosexual

is attracted to men.

Another person

might be attracted to someone
of the same gender as themselves.

For example, a woman who is a lesbian
is attracted to other women.

Yet, another person might be attracted
to people of more than one gender.

For example, a woman who is bisexual
is attracted to both men and women.

Now, let's talk about gender identity.

This is shown as the brain

as it's about how you think
and feel about yourself and your gender.

Some people identify
as either a woman or a man.

This is a common way of thinking.

But actually many people feel
that they don't fit with these two genders

They might feel
they are a mixture of the two

or are something else
that can't be clearly defined.

A person's gender identity

might reflect the sex
that they were assigned at birth,

or it might not.

For example, a trans woman might
have been described as male at birth,

but now identifies as female.

Now, gender expression.

This involves the whole person

because it is about the different ways

that you communicate your gender
identity to the outside world.

This could include how you dress,

what haircut you have,

how you act,

or what name you use.

Finally, let's talk
about sex characteristics.

We show these as genitalia
because they reflect

whether someone is biologically
and physically female or male,

as well as your external genitalia.

Sex characteristics include your hormones,
chromosomes, body shape, voice pitch

and body hair.

A person who is intersex
is born with sex characteristics

that are not completely male or female.

They are a combination of both.

So, let's put all the pieces together.

Sexual orientation

is about who you are emotionally,
physically, and sexually attracted to.

Gender identity is about how you think
and feel about yourself and your gender.

Gender expression

is about how you communicate
your gender identity to the outside world,

and sex characteristics
are about your biology,

such as genitalia, hormones,
and body shape.

Each of us has a sexual orientation,

a gender identity, a gender expression
and sex characteristics.

They combine to make up
a unique SOGIESC identity.

SOGIESC is fluid.

This means that there are
lots of different options

with no right or wrong way to be,

also things can change over time.

Our SOGIESC identity
combines with other factors,

such as our age, where we live,

whether we are rich or poor,
or whether we have a disability

to make who we are.

It also affects our power in society.

Sometimes people
are discriminated or excluded

because of their sexual orientation,
gender identity, gender expression

and sex characteristics.

This includes people
who identify as lesbian, gay,

bisexual, trans, intersex or questioning,

known as LGBTIQ+.

We all have the right to define

and be proud of our SOGIESC identity.

There is no need
to stereotype or harm people.

Everyone is unique.

We must all recognize, accept
and celebrate this diversity.

For more information,
see Plan-International.org.