Adgender is a gender modality where an individual feels a movement toward a specific gender or gender presentation. This concept is more inclusive than labels like transmasculine or transfeminine, as it embraces those who may not fall strictly under the trans umbrella. Adgender is an acknowledgment of the fluid, evolving journey of aligning one’s identity with different gender expressions. It can involve moving toward masculinity, femininity, neutrality, or androgyny. The term highlights that gender exploration does not need to follow traditional paths and that it can be dynamic and varied over time.
Chris always felt that their gender didn’t fit neatly into conventional categories. On some days, they enjoyed wearing masculine clothing and taking on a more traditionally “male” role, while on other days, they found comfort in gender-neutral or feminine expressions. It was confusing, as Chris didn’t fully resonate with the term non-binary or any traditional labels like transmasculine. When they stumbled upon the term adgender, it felt like a revelation. “Finally, a word that explains my shifting nature,” Chris thought. The concept of adgender resonated because it validated their fluidity without requiring them to settle on one identity or path. Chris shared their discovery with close friends, explaining, “My gender isn’t about staying in one place; it’s about moving toward what feels right at that moment.” With this newfound term, Chris felt empowered to explore and express themselves freely. This understanding helped Chris engage in communities with openness, embracing the idea that their identity could shift without any loss of authenticity. Being adgender meant celebrating movement and change, making each phase of their journey meaningful.
The prefix “ad-” signifies “toward,” capturing the essence of moving closer to a particular gender identity. This term serves as an umbrella for identities like adfeminine, admasculine, and adneutral, encompassing more than the traditional transgender spectrum by including those whose experiences may not fit under conventional transgender definitions.
People who resonate with the adgender label often have diverse and unique experiences. For instance, someone who was assigned female at birth (AFAB) might shift between feeling connected to femininity and exploring masculinity, taking deliberate steps to reflect these changes outwardly. An individual might undergo hormone treatments or adjust their appearance in subtle ways to align more closely with their evolving identity, without fully adopting terms like “transfeminine” or “transmasculine.” In other cases, a non-binary person might find themselves expressing gender in ways that diverge from societal expectations, embracing a fluid and personal form of gender presentation. Even those who have medical interventions but don’t identify as transgender can find a home within the adgender spectrum, as it represents an approach to gender that focuses on movement and transformation rather than fixed categories.
The term adgender was introduced by Tumblr user queer-buccaneers on June 22, 2018, as a way to articulate these nuanced experiences of gender movement. This broader framework allows for a more inclusive understanding that adapts to the individual’s relationship with gender, extending beyond binaries and labels typically associated with gender transition.
Sources
- queer-buccaneers. “admasculine: transitioning towards masculinity : adfeminine: transitioning towards femininity,” Tumblr, August 22, 2018. Link (archive)
- adorable-abomination. “adfemasc or admascfem: someone who is both adfeminine and admasculine,” Tumblr, December 31, 2021. Link
- beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Adfeminine Pride Flag,” Tumblr, January 8, 2022. Link Archived January 29, 2022.
- beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Adgender Pride Flag,” Tumblr, July 14, 2018. Link (archive)
- beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Admasculine Pride Flag,” Tumblr, January 8, 2022. Link Archived February 16, 2022.
- beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Adnull Pride Flag,” Tumblr, August 22, 2021. Link (archive)
- Dictionary.com. “-ad.” Link
- isobug. “Adandrogynous flags,” Tumblr, December 3, 2022. Link (archive)
- kenochoric-moved. “Admascfem: Someone who is both admasculine and adfeminine,” Tumblr, December 3, 2022. Link
- kenochoric-moved. “Edited / Alternate Adgender Flags,” Tumblr, December 25, 2021. Link (archive)
- LGBTA Wiki. “Adgender,” February 15, 2022. Link Archived February 15, 2022.
- mogaiminty. “Adneomasc/Adneomasculine,” Tumblr, August 24, 2022. Link (archive)
- mogaiminty. “Adxenine,” Tumblr, November 12, 2022. Link (archive)