Gender Identity, Biology, and Respect: A Pride Month Reflection

June is Pride Month—a time to celebrate the vibrant spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities and reflect on how we can all be more inclusive in our language, practices, and mindsets. One area I think is particularly important to talk about is gender identity- what it is, what it isn’t, and why it matters.

Let’s start with biology. A lot of people still cling to the idea that sex is strictly binary: XX means female, XY means male. But science tells us it’s more nuanced than that. Genetics and human development are far more complex. There are intersex conditions such as XXY (Klinefelter syndrome), XO (Turner syndrome), and individuals with XY chromosomes whose SRY gene (the gene typically responsible for initiating male development) is inactive or absent. These variations show that even biological sex isn’t a simple binary.

But gender? Gender is not the same as sex. Gender is a social and cultural construct—a way we interpret and assign roles, behaviors, and identities based on societal expectations. And this has never been fixed or universal. Different cultures across history have recognized more than two genders. From the Two-Spirit people in many Indigenous cultures to Hijra in South Asia, gender diversity has always existed. What we’re experiencing now in the U.S. and other parts of the world isn’t new, it’s a reawakening to the idea that gender can evolve.

An interesting aspect of gender socialization is how society often allows young girls who express traits or behaviors considered “masculine” to be labeled as “tomboys.” This label carries an implicit flexibility and acceptance of gender expression during childhood. However, once these individuals grow older, many face societal pressure to conform to more traditional adult female gender roles, and their gender expression may no longer be accepted or validated. This dynamic highlights how gender norms are enforced differently across age and social contexts, reflecting the complex and often contradictory nature of gender as a social construct.

We’re living in a time of redefinition and reimagining—breaking free from rigid roles and expanding the space for people to show up as their full selves. And yes, that can feel uncomfortable, especially if you grew up with a different framework. But that discomfort is a doorway to growth.

I’m committed to making my practice a safer space for everyone. That means using inclusive language, asking for (and sharing) pronouns—mine are she/her—and doing my best to respect each person’s identity. I also want to acknowledge that I don’t always get it right. If I make a mistake, please tell me. I value being called in.

And here’s something important: you don’t need to know someone’s gender, or what is in their pants, to treat them with respect. Think about how many times you’ve emailed a doctor, professor, or met someone professionally and only knew their last name, not their gender presentation. You still managed to interact respectfully, right? The same goes for every person you meet, regardless of how they identify or what you assume about them.

At the end of the day, the foundation is simple: respect people for who they are. Not who you think they should be. Not who society told you they are. Just who they are.

Happy Pride Month, friends. Let’s keep learning, growing, and showing up with love.


Health and Harmony,
Dr. Bobi Farrow (She/Her)

References & Further Reading

  • Fausto-Sterling, Anne. Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. Basic Books, 2000.

  • Dreger, Alice Domurat. Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex. Harvard University Press, 1998.

  • Nestle, Joan, et al. Genderqueer: Voices from Beyond the Sexual Binary. Seal Press, 2002.

  • Hyde, Janet Shibley, et al. “The Gender Similarities Hypothesis.” American Psychologist, vol. 60, no. 6, 2005, pp. 581–592.

  • Roscoe, Will. Changing Ones: Third and Fourth Genders in Native North America. Palgrave Macmillan, 2000.

  • Nanda, Serena. Gender Diversity: Crosscultural Variations. Waveland Press, 2014.

  • Lev, Arlene Istar. Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-Variant People and Their Families. Haworth Clinical Practice Press, 2004.

  • Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 1990.

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