misgendered

Called incorrect pronoun

Misgendered describes someone who has been referred to by the wrong gender—called "he" when they identify as "she," or vice versa, or addressed with gendered terms that don't match their identity.

The term emerged from transgender discourse but applies to anyone incorrectly gendered: The waiter kept calling me "sir" and I felt misgendered.

To misgender someone may be accidental or deliberate.

harm

dysphoria

Profound psychological discomfort

distressSevere anxiety or suffering
invalidationAct of nullifying
erasureAct of wiping away

disrespect · hurt · microaggression · exclusion · anxiety · alienation · marginalization · invisibility · dismissal · dehumanization

identity

transgender

Gender differs from assignment

nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
genderqueerOutside the two-category system
genderfluidVariable gender identity

agender · cisgender · deadname · transition · passing · stealth · out · closeted · intersex · two-spirit

correction

pronouns

Noun substitutes

they/themGender-neutral singular pronouns
she/herFemale pronoun set
he/himThird-person masculine pronouns

neopronouns · preferred · correct · apology · clarification · update · reminder · politely · gently · educate

context

bathroom

Room for hygiene

workplaceEmployment location
schoolPlace of instruction
healthcareOrganized provision of treatment

documents · ID · forms · family · strangers · colleagues · public · phone · deadname · assumptions

Opposites

intentionality/respect

misgenderedvalidated

Confirmed as true or acceptable

respected · acknowledged · recognized · honored · seen

Family

misgender

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG