As June is Pride Month, we would like to take a closer look at the topic of gender diversity this month. Gender is thought, discussed, experienced and lived beyond the rigid concept of binarity. Non-binarity is a topic in every scientific discipline that deals with gender. For example, in medicine: biologically, gender can be determined by external sexual characteristics, reproductive organs, chromosomes and hormones. However, from a scientific perspective, this cannot always be categorised in binary terms.

The term gender diversity includes gender identity and gender expression. Both do not necessarily have to correspond to binary, cis-heteronormative categories; a person’s gender identity, for example, does not always correspond to the gender assigned at birth. Gender expression (i.e. how a person chooses to present themselves to the outside world, e.g. through their appearance or behaviour) also does not directly indicate their gender identity.

What does cis-heteronormativity mean?

Cis-heteronormativity refers to the social norm that assumes one form of sexuality (heterosexuality) and two binary genders (cis-women and cis-men). These norms also go hand in hand with privileges.

What role does this play in everyday university life?

Gender identities are often incorrectly assigned in everyday (university) life. All-gender toilets play a major role here; these make everyday life easier for people who are often assigned a gender that does not match. Self-chosen names and pronouns are also important in a university context. The desire to name oneself is often met with incomprehension and unacceptance. In everyday university life, however, there are hardly any situations where this is not possible. Students now also have the option of changing their name in the campus system so that the desired name is displayed on course attendance lists, for example.

There are also a whole range of options for an inclusive university that can be easily incorporated into our everyday lives.

Everyone can:

• recognise gender diversity – it has always existed
• communicate our chosen pronouns and ask others about theirs, also in order to normalise communication about pronouns
• use people’s chosen form of address and support each other with this
• not address a person using their deadname*

*a deadname is the name given to a person at birth which does not fit their gender identity anymore.

Teaching staff can:

• incorporate the desired pronouns and names of a person in introduction rounds
• ensure that the desired forms of address are used in discussions
• communicate scientific facts on the topic and intervene in cases of discrimination

Further information:

Barker, Meg-John & Jules Scheele. (2019.) Gender: A Graphic Guide. Icon books.

LGBTQIA+ Glossary. Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity. University of California, Santa Barbara. https://rcsgd.sa.ucsb.edu/resources/lgbtqia-informational-resources/lgbtqia-glossary?letter=1

With the campaign “Youniversity: Celebrating diversity. Living respect.” the Equal Opportunities Working Group (AKG) of the University of Klagenfurt will focus on various diversity topics throughout the next two semesters. You can find more information on the campaign website.