Polygender facts for kids
Polygender, also known as plurigender or multigender, is a way someone understands their own gender. It means a person experiences more than one gender. This can be at the same time or at different times. It's part of the many different ways people identify themselves, which is called non-binary. Non-binary means not identifying as only a boy or only a girl.
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Understanding Polygender
Polygender is about how a person feels inside about their gender. It's not about who they are attracted to. Someone who is polygender might feel like they are two or more genders at once. For example, they might feel like they are both a boy and a girl, or a boy and another gender that isn't male or female. They might also feel like their gender changes over time.
What Does "Non-Binary" Mean?
To understand polygender, it helps to know about "non-binary." Most people are taught that there are only two genders: boy and girl. But some people feel that these two words don't fully describe them. Non-binary is a term for anyone whose gender identity is not only male or only female. It's like a big umbrella that covers many different gender identities, including polygender.
How People Express Their Gender
People who are polygender, like all people, can express their gender in many ways. This includes how they dress, their hairstyles, or the pronouns they use (like "he/him," "she/her," or "they/them"). How someone expresses their gender doesn't always show what their gender identity is. It's important to respect how each person identifies themselves.
Symbols and Community
Like many groups, people who are polygender often have symbols that represent them. The polygender pride flag is one such symbol. It has different colored stripes, each representing a part of the polygender experience. These flags help people feel connected and show pride in who they are.
The Importance of Respect
Learning about different gender identities like polygender helps us understand the many ways people exist in the world. It's important to be kind and respectful to everyone, no matter how they identify. Using someone's correct pronouns and respecting their identity helps create a welcoming and safe community for everyone.
Images for kids
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Anjali Gopalan and Gopi Shankar Madurai inaugurating Asia's first Genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai with a rainbow and genderqueer flag
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Bigender pride flag, made up of horizontal stripes of, from top to bottom, pink, light pink, lavender, white, light blue, and blue.
