ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Causes of gender incongruence

Gender incongruence is when someone feels like they are not the gender that people usually think they are.

For example, a person who is born a boy might feel like they are actually a girl on the inside. This can be very confusing and make them feel uncomfortable in their own body.

There are many different reasons why someone might experience gender incongruence. It’s important to remember that everyone is different and there is no one “right” reason for feeling this way.

Sometimes, it can be because of something called gender dysphoria. This means that a person feels a lot of distress or discomfort because their gender identity (how they see themselves) doesn’t match their physical body.

Other times, it might be because a person doesn’t feel like they fit in with the gender expectations that society has for them. For example, a girl might like playing sports and wearing jeans instead of dresses, but people keep telling her that she’s supposed to be more “girly.”

Still other times, it might be because of hormones or genetics. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly why people might be transgender or non-binary, but it’s thought that both nature (biology) and nurture (environment and upbringing) can play a role.

No matter what the reason, it’s important to remember that feeling like you don’t fit in with the gender you were assigned at birth is okay. Everyone deserves to be accepted and loved for who they are, no matter how they identify.