Gender Identity

Gender identity is ones deeply-held inner feeling of whether they are female or male, both, or neither (non-binary, xenogender etc.) An individual's gender identity isn't seen by others.

For most individuals, their gender identity matches their physical traits, but it’s important to know that these concepts are independent and can be different for each individuals.

Gender Identity vs Gender Expression
The main difference is that gender identity refers to ones inner feelings of whether they're female or male, both, or neither (xenogender, non-binary, etc.) It is independent from gender stereotypes, while gender expression (or gender presentation) refers to how one's appearance and behavior is categorized by society in relation to the genders recognized in that society. While gender presentation is often thought of as being an indication of one's actual gender, that is not always the case. For example, a woman may present androgynously or masculinely, or a non-binary individual may present masculinely or femininely, etc.

Individuals whose gender presentation does not align with their actual gender are known as gender non-conforming. Some individuals may change their gender presentation from day to day.