What Does It Mean To Be Gender Fluid?

If you've heard the phrase "gender fluid" and aren't exactly sure what it means, you're probably not alone. The term gender fluid means not having a fixed, single sense of your gender.

It's an inclusive term that reflects how a person's gender identity can be something other than the conventional gender archetypes of male and female.

What Is Gender Identity?

Before getting into the definition of gender fluid, it helps to understand what gender identity means—as well as the words cisgender and transgender. According to Youth.gov, gender identity refers to our internal sense of being male, female, or another identity. Because gender identity is internal, it is not necessarily visible to others

Austin, Texas-based clinical psychologist Jo Eckler, PsyD, told Health that gender identity is a person's deep sense of their gender.

"It may or may not match the sex you were assigned at birth or how other people see you," said Dr. Eckler. "If it matches, then you fall into the cisgender category. If it doesn't match, then transgender or gender non-conforming might be a better fit."

Basically, gender identity is your own internal experience regardless of what your chromosomes, organs, or external physical characteristics might indicate, said Dr. Eckler.

What Is Gender Fluid?

Gender fluid is one of the terms people may use to describe their gender. According to Youth.gov, gender fluid reflects a more flexible range of gender expression.

Note that gender fluid is not to be confused with "non-binary," though it does fall under the non-binary blanket. Individuals who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as outside of the male-female gender binary are considered non-binary, says Youth.gov.

"People whose gender is not male or female use many different terms to describe themselves, with nonbinary being one of the most common," states the National Center for Transgender Equality on the organization's website. "Other terms include genderqueer, agender, bigender, and more. None of these terms mean exactly the same thing—but all speak to an experience of gender that is not simply male or female."

"Gender fluidity is a gender identity that may change over time or according to relational or psychological state, and also incorporates the feeling of not having a gender, Virginia-based psychotherapist April Bennett told Health. Being gender fluid means something different to each person. "In practice, gender fluid people may express masculinity, femininity, or an androgynous self in their personality, sexual experiences, and self-concept," said Bennett.

Because gender fluidity means not having a fixed, single sense of your gender, that gender could shift over time—during the course of a day, weeks, months, or years. "Whatever form gender fluidity takes, it is important to remember that it is a valid gender identity. It is not being flaky or 'going through a phase,'" said Dr. Eckler. "So many other aspects of ourselves ebb and flow and shift that it only makes sense that our gender can, too."

How Common Is Gender Fluidity?

Though a 2022 Pew Research Center study found that 1.6% of U.S. adults are transgender or nonbinary, Dr. Eckler said it's not known how many people are gender fluid. "Sometimes statistics on the transgender population include gender fluid people, and sometimes they don't."

"Even then, it isn't clear how many gender fluid people there are. Also, due to the lack of common knowledge about nonbinary and gender fluid identities, there are likely people out there who are gender fluid but don't realize that there is a name for it," said Dr. Eckler.

Because gender fluidity typically involves shifts or changes in gender, different pronouns may be used, depending on how the person views their gender at that moment in time. Many—but not all—gender fluid people use "they" instead of "he" or "she." Others prefer "zie" or "Mx." If you're not sure, just ask.

A Quick Review

Gender fluid is one of the terms people may use to describe their gender. It reflects a more flexible range of gender expression, rather than a fixed, single sense of your gender.

Being gender fluid means something different to each person. And it can change. An individual's gender could shift over time—during the course of a day, weeks, months, or years.

It's not known how many people are gender fluid. While gender fluid does not mean non-binary, it falls under the non-binary blanket.