Opinion | Hong Kong’s growing awareness of gender identity complexities brings confusion and worry

The Tavistock gender clinic scandal in the UK, transgender sporting controversies, growing media coverage of the debate, and the use of different pronouns are causing anxiety among many in the city

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An employee exits a unisex toilet at the Beijing headquarters of Blued, the world’s largest gay social network app, on May 29, 2018. Photo: Xinyan Yu

Published: 4:30pm, 27 Jul 2023

Over recent years, gender identity has become increasingly significant, with greater awareness of transgender issues and increasing numbers speaking out about their gender identities.

The opinions, understanding and acceptance of those who do not comply with the traditional binary gender conventions vary dramatically across generations, social groups and individuals. People’s views often reflect their local cultures, and this is particularly noticeable in some Western cultures where the understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ are more deeply ingrained.

Traditionally, gender has been directly associated with the sex of a newborn child – that is, male or female – and there is a tendency to use the terms “sex” and “gender” synonymously. Although connected, they are distinct concepts. Still, gender reflects different aspects of a person’s identity, which is of little concern for most people as they tend to rest comfortably within male or female stereotypes.

Increased media coverage, mainly over the internet such as through social media, has moved the gender discussion towards centre stage, resulting in greater awareness and an understanding that gender is a much more complex subject than many previously thought.

However, in Hong Kong, it was never seen as a high priority for many people because they felt it did not directly relate to them or anyone close to them. But, as we are beginning to realise, the relationship between an individual’s physical, personal and social dimensions is not always straightforward.

Within the growing LGBTQ community, gender identity is deeply personal and vital, and may or may not align with the biological sex assigned at birth.

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