- Definition
Gender expression is how someone shows their gender to the world through things like their clothes, hair, voice, and even their chosen name. It's how others see and understand their gender.
A person's choice of clothing, hairstyle, and the name they ask people to call them are all part of their gender expression.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Gender expression is like choosing your outfit for the day — it's how you decide to show a part of yourself to the world on the outside.
Ask your child: How do you show others a bit of who you are on the outside?
Common mix-up: Many people think gender expression is the same as a person's gender identity. Gender expression is about how we choose to show our gender outwardly, which is separate from our inner sense of self.
Examples
- Choosing to use specific pronouns, like he, she, or they, is one way a person expresses their gender.
- Someone's body language and tone of voice are also ways they can express their gender.
gender expression is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
