NC but am a regular on here.
I'd previously assumed that 'transitioning' meant, essentially, a person who very much wanted to be perceived as the opposite sex taking on - usually, not always - stereotypically culturally masculine or feminine aspects of appearance to assist with this perception (clothes, hair, make-up, etc), although I also realise that transitioning can be simply a change of name and requested pronouns. I have sympathy with people who are deeply unhappy with the sex of their bodies, as well as people who feel they do not appear feminine or masculine 'enough' for society to accept them, so this is in no way a dig at them but an exploration of what I have learned.
Reading Bristol Council's proposed Trans Inclusion and Gender Identity Policy at
www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/trans-inclusion-and-gender-diversity-policy-consultation -
(essentially, to help trans people, they want to make all single-sex spaces mixed-sex and you can 'choose' the one you prefer - the consultation is open for a few more days if you feel there are safety or dignity issues with this - however, the policy does already state that "Whilst some people may feel less comfortable because they do not accept transgender identity or perceive that trans people pose an increased safeguarding risk to others, this is not itself a legitimate or proportionate reason to exclude trans and gender-diverse people from using preferred toilets and facilities.", so you would need to correct the false assumption that the objection is to 'being trans' rather than to a person's biological sex) -
I realise that 'trans' also includes 'agender', defined as: "a term for individuals who are genderless or who reject gender identification completely." Reading their guidance, I clearly identify with this - some years ago I would have said I was a 'cis' woman but educating myself made me realise this is not a label I'm at all comfortable with, and as I reject gender identification, agender appears to match what I am.
Their definition of gender is as follows:
"People often use the terms ‘gender’ and ‘sex’ interchangeably when talking about a person being male or female, or masculine or feminine. However, ‘sex’ is recorded at birth and refers to a person’s biological status as either male or female, based on their physical attributes and external anatomy.
‘Gender’ refers to the characteristics typically associated with being feminine or masculine that are constructed by society. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy etc. as well as relationships with each other. Ways of understanding gender vary from society to society and can change over time. Gender identity is our own internal and individual sense of self as being feminine, masculine, a mixture of these, or rejecting current gender norms entirely."
I'm still a woman, as far as I can tell, as that means either 'female' or something else I'm unsure of. So if asked my sex, I would say I am a woman or female, but if asked about my gender I would say I am agender. Others may view my behaviour as masculine or feminine, but I believe that is irrelevant to anyone's sex, and that linking types of behaviour to sex is often sexist, regressive and not borne out by evidence. I don't believe that what 'society constructs' has much to do with my own individual sense of self - I have very little control over how others see me and judge my behaviour, except I suppose my clothes or haircut.
Bristol's policy clearly states that 'Transitioning’ is a term used to describe the steps an individual takes in order to live in their affirmed gender identity, which may be as a man, woman, non-binary, gender fluid or a-gender person.
'The steps' I have taken were more of an internal realisation rather than a deliberate change to my appearance - I don't personally believe my gender identity or lack of changes depending on what I feel like wearing - but it does appear that I have transitioned from a cis person to an agender one (although perhaps I was agender all along).
Is anyone else in the same boat? Do you feel comfortable as agender, even though that may be incorrectly presumed to mean you don't believe you have a sex? Do I need to tell my employer or anyone else?