Identity

Gender, sexual and other kinds of identity often play big parts in our lives and our experiences living in the world, our sense of self, our sexualities, and our interpersonal relationships. Here’s information on gender, including transgender and gender-expansive identities, intersex, gender roles, expression and navigating gender in relationships, sexual orientation, including the asexuality spectrum, and other kinds of sexual identity, as well as other aspects of identity to help you find your own way around your own identity and figure out what it all means for you.

A bunny rabbit looks at themself in a mirror

Highlighted content

Articles and Advice in this area:

Article
  • Adam England

Even when you’re with a supportive partner, coming out as a bisexual guy to a girlfriend or another kind of woman partner isn’t always easy and might feel awfully intimidating. Adam England has some support, help and solidarity to spare.

Article
  • Marisha Thomas

There’s this feeling of smallness - that your world is confined to secrets you tell in your diary, or to the few people you know in real life that are brave (or perhaps foolish) enough to come out - that I identify as a part of my theory on queer orphanhood. You spend so much time contemplating your identity that you don’t have time to wonder about people out there. There’s a kind of spiritual displacement in being queer and young.

Advice
  • Mo Ranyart

I want to start by answering your question about whether it’s normal or common for bisexual people to doubt their orientation, because it’s something I’ve seen often, both in my experience as a volunteer here at Scarleteen and as a person with a lot of bisexual friends and acquaintances. I’m not…

Advice
  • Siân Jones

Hi Parvati, It’s great to hear that you’re trying to be a good ally, and doing some of the self-examination and learning that comes with that! Since you helpfully broke your question down into three parts, I’ll go through them one by one. 1. Is gender really only a social construct? The short answer…

Advice
  • Siân Jones

Hi Susan, It sounds like you have two separate things going on here. We can break it down into smaller pieces and talk about them individually. 1. Your friend likes you, but you don’t like him like that. The most immediate thing is that your best friend has expressed a romantic interest in you…

Article
  • Gabriel Leão

Machismo is an expression of exacerbated masculinity that has caused lingering pain and trauma to generations of Latinx people. Many young people are still struggling with it today.

Article
  • Lane Lewis

Thinking about trying low-dose testosterone therapy? Lane Lewis gives you the scoop on what that means, some options, making the decision, and working through your feelings throughout.

Article
  • Mo Ranyart

Letters from the author to himself in his teens and early 20s, as he tries to sort out multiple facets of his identity.

Article
  • Adam England

When you identify as queer but enter into relationships with heterosexual people, or those with of a different gender to your own, it can feel odd to consolidate these two parts of your identity. You’re not straight, but society can perceive you that way – where do you fit in, exactly?

Article
  • Sam Wall

Social distancing has introduced new challenges into Pride month. Here are some tips on how to celebrate safely at home, including what to do if it’s not safe for you to be out yet.