Final answer:
Your self-identification as either man or woman is called your gender identity. It is distinct from sexual orientation, which is related to attraction, and from gender expression, which is how one presents gender externally. Gender identity can differ from biological sex, leading to the identification of some individuals as transgender.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your self-identification as either man or woman is called your gender identity. Gender identity is an individual's personal sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth. When a person's gender identity does not align with their biological sex, they may be identified as transgender. It's important to recognize that gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation, which is about who one is attracted to, and gender expression, which refers to how one outwardly expresses their gender through behavior, clothing, haircut, voice, and body characteristics.
Terms like "masculine" and "feminine" are often associated with gender expression rather than biological sex. Gender expression can be how one showcases their gender identity to the world and can vary widely from person to person. Therefore, gender identity is about an internal experience, while gender expression is about external presentation.
Furthermore, it's essential to understand the difference between sex and gender. Sex denotes the biological characteristics differentiating males and females, while gender denotes social and cultural characteristics of masculine and feminine behavior. These two concepts are not always in sync, and people whose gender identity does not match the gender typically associated with their biological sex might experience a form of gender dysphoria.