Defining the Fine Line: Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in the 21st Century, 5 Narratives of Expression

Abstract

Gender identity and sexual orientation have often been confused as being synonymous. There is a fine line, which differentiates the two. Current research and education regarding the gender identity and sexual orientation of people that identify with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning population is limited. The thesis explores what the current research says about both gender identity and sexual orientation and how it is explicitly defined. Five narratives of expression were collected from real human individuals who suffered an identity transformation crisis. The narratives both illustrate and contradict what research says and thus proves how much room there is for a broadening definition of identity expression. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not overlapping concepts. They are ultimately defined through an individual’s life experiences, which are more complex than the definition of gender itself.