Xenogender

Xenogender is a term that is used to refer to describe what someone's gender feels like to them. It is a great tool that many use to express their individuality and how they feel they are inside, and was originally intended to help neurodivergent people discuss their gender with others.

People who use xenogenders don't actually identify their gender as the word they've used prefacing "-gender". (ex. cat-gender doesn't mean that person identifies as a cat.)

There is a misconception that using one of these makes someone trans and/or nonbinary. This is untrue. Xenogenders are made for everyone to find what describes them best, and even cisgender people can (and do) use them and new neopronouns to describe their more unique feelings of themselves to others.

However, it is primarily LGBT+ people, particularly nonbinary people, who use them currently. But that doesn't mean that you can assume the gender of someone based on a xenogender identity. (For example, binary trans people use these as well, and using a xenogender doesn't make them a nonbinary person.)

"I heard that person is using a xenogender catgender and cat pronouns now. What, they identify as a cat?"

"Actually, no. Someone who is cat gender isn't identifying as a cat. They aren't trans-species. That person probably feels that cat's gender is small and warm or something like that. I'm sure cat would be willing to explain it to you if you asked cat."

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