Youth's Lives Every Day
What is the difference between gender euphoria and gender dysphoria?
Gender euphoria is defined as the satisfaction or joy caused when someone’s gender experience or expression aligns with their gender identity, rather than with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender euphoria is often understood as “the opposite” of gender dysphoria – a clinical term that refers to feelings of discomfort or distress caused by a disconnect between someone’s gender identity and the gender they were assigned at birth.
This terminology is typically used to describe experiences among transgender and nonbinary individuals. However, people of all identities can experience gender euphoria – both within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community.
How does someone experience gender euphoria?
There are many ways in which someone might experience gender euphoria, and they can vary from person to person. In a survey conducted by The Trevor Project, a sample of more than 9,000 transgender and nonbinary young people shared the instances and experiences that made them feel euphoric about their gender. Some of the most common examples included:
- Wearing certain clothing, hairstyles, makeup, or other ways of expressing themselves that align with their gender identity
- When people use gendered language that matches their gender identity, such as respecting their pronouns, name, or using gendered expressions and titles that match their identity (e.g., a transgender man being called “sir”)
- When people treat them in ways that match their gender identity, like including them in typically single-sex activities that align with who they are (e.g., a transgender woman being included in a “girls’ night”)
- When people talk to the person in ways that match their gender identity; as one trans man shared: “Treat me like a normal guy.”
- When others validate their experiences, feelings, and how they express their gender
One transgender young person said they experience gender euphoria when others “genuinely treat[ed] me like they would a friend or person of that gender.” Others said they felt gender euphoria when people compared them to male or female actors in movies and TV shows whose gender identity matched their own.
Why does gender euphoria matter?
When it comes to the transgender and nonbinary community in the United States, both society and science often overfocus on the negative experiences they face. While naming and addressing anti-transgender victimization and discrimination is vital, it is also important to highlight positive experiences among transgender and nonbinary young people.
For example, transgender and nonbinary young people who reported feeling high levels of gender euphoria had:
- 47% lower odds of depression
- 37% lower odds of anxiety
- 37% lower odds of suicidal ideation in the past year, compared to those who reported low levels of gender euphoria
How can you support transgender and nonbinary young people?
You do not have to be an expert in LGBTQ+ topics or identities to show meaningful support to the transgender and nonbinary young people in your life. The Trevor Project’s researchers asked thousands of young people to tell us how the people in their lives can show support and acceptance. Some of their most common answers included:
- Trust that I know who I am
- Stand up for me
- Look up things about LGBTQ+ identities on your own to better understand
- Respect my pronouns
- Show support for the LGBTQ+ community on social media
For a deeper dive, read The Trevor Project’s Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People. This introductory educational resource covers a wide range of topics and best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary youth.
Can cisgender people experience gender euphoria?
Gender euphoria isn’t only for those who are transgender and nonbinary – it can be experienced by people of all gender identities.
Anyone can experience gender euphoria. To determine how you might experience it, consider asking yourself the following questions:
- What about my appearance helps me feel more like myself or brings me joy? (Clothing, hats, shoes, jewelry, makeup, style, tattoos, piercings, etc.)
- How do the ways people communicate with me help me feel more like myself, or bring me joy?
- How do the ways people include me, such as including me in certain gendered activities or interactions, help me feel more like myself or bring me joy?
Additional Gender Identity Resources
Gender Identity
- Diversity of Youth Gender Identity
- Genderqueer Identities
- Gender Spectrum
- The Gender Book
- Students and Gender Identity Guide for Schools (USC Rossier’s, online MSC program)
