Gender affirmation is a personal process where a trans or gender diverse person implements steps to live as their defined or affirmed gender identity, rather than the gender assigned to them at birth. Transition may involve social, medical/surgical and/or legal steps that affirm a person’s gender.
This process may include:
- Social affirmation, which can involve a number of changes to the way you identify outwardly. This may include: changing names and pronouns, trying new clothing and hairstyles, using your voice differently, and tucking and binding body parts to name a few. Social affirmation may involve trying new or different clothing. All staff are supported to dress in a way which best reflects their gender. In the workplace, professional dress standards apply to staff, regardless of gender.
- Medical affirmation, which involves medical interventions such as hormones or surgery
- Legal affirmation, which can involve changing your legal gender marker and name in official documents and records to live as your defined gender(s).
Supporting resources