Gender taxonomy

The gender taxonomy is a classification of the range of different levels at which humans vary in sexual characteristics. It is mainly used by medical specialists working in the area of sex research.[1] John Money and Milton Diamond are probably the best known researchers in this field. Money earned his PhD for research into human hermaphroditism and pseudohermaphroditism, now known as intersex conditions. The taxonomy starts at the simplest, biological level and traces differentiations expressed at the increasingly complicated levels produced over the course of the human life cycle.

Types of gender taxonomy

Gendered sexuality taxonomy

Contemporary definitions and conceptualizations of sex, gender, and sexuality lack sufficient subtlety to adequately describe the full range of human sexuality (Devor, 1994).

A taxonomy of gendered sexuality, presented below, can better define the terms relevant to human sexuality and takes into account the interaction over time among sex, gender, and sexual fantasies, desires, practices of persons in intimate relationships at both the level of self-identity and attribution by others.

The taxonomy is a combination of classifications based on the genetic sexes of persons in relationships and categorizations based on those persons' social genders to arrive at classifications of gendered sexuality.

Terminology for this taxonomy was drawn from everyday language and can be used for descriptive, diagnostic, and theoretical purposes.[2]

A taxonomy of gendered sexuality

Biological taxonomy

A taxonomy of gender also includes biological classifications of a range of sexual characteristics, which develop over one’s life cycle. The purely biological level of classifications includes chromosomes, which categorize female sex chromosome abnormalities and male sex chromosome abnormalities.[3]

  • Turner Syndrome is a result from one of female sex chromosome abnormalities. Females inherit only one X chromosome (genotype is X0). Many do not survive birth and if they do they are shorter in stature and usually lack secondary female sexual characteristics. Their ovaries do not develop properly so they are sterile. If given estrogen replacement therapy around the age of puberty, women with Turner syndrome appear relatively normal.[3]
  • Triple-X Syndrome is another syndrome that occurs from a female sex chromosome abnormality. Females inherit three or more X chromosomes (genotype is XXX). These “super-females” or “meta-females” appear normal except for their unusually long legs and slender torsos. They tend to be emotionally immature for their size but emotionally mature in relation to girls their same age. They sometimes have learning difficulties, usually in speech and language. Women with Triple-X syndrome are fertile but can have premature ovarian failure.[3]
  • Klinefelter Syndrome is a syndrome resulting from a male sex chromosome abnormality. Males inherit one or more extra X chromosomes (genotype is XXY). They have higher-pitched voices with little facial and body hair. In childhood, they have learning difficulties and are more likely to be overweight. Boys are usually given testosterone at the age of puberty and often sterile. Men with Down syndrome sometimes also have Klinefelter syndrome.[3]
  • XYY Syndrome is also a syndrome resulting from a male sex chromosome abnormality. Males inherit an extra Y chromosome (genotype is XYY). These “super-males” appear normal but are usually taller and produce higher levels of testosterone. In childhood they are more slender, have severe acne, are very uncoordinated, and have below average intelligence. Males with XYY syndrome are fertile and are not often aware that they have an abnormality.[3]

Gender classification (in development)
Gender and sexual orientation classification, orientation structure
characteristics genitals gonads chromosomes testosteron level estrogen level behavior role in sex clothes bdsm behavior porn type preferred wants srs ?
female hetero uterus ovaries xx low high feminine receiving feminine submissive heterosexual no
f. lesbian submissive (femme, dee) uterus ovaries xx low high feminine receiving feminine submissive lesbian no
f. lesbian dominant (butch, tom) uterus ovaries xx low high biased towards masculine predominantly penetrating feminine-masculine dominant lesbian no
ftm cross-dresser, ininiikaazo (Ojibwe) uterus ovaries xx low high masculine predominantly penetrating masculine dominant heterosexual no
ftm trans non-hrt, ininiikaazo uterus ovaries xx low high masculine predominantly penetrating masculine dominant hetero, ftm trans yes
mtf trans op+hrt vagina only none xy low, hrt high, hrt feminine predominantly receiving feminine submissive hetero, mtf trans yes
shemale, kathoey, ladyboy penis testis xy low, hrt high, hrt feminine predominantly receiving feminine submissive shemale, hetero no
mtf trans non-hrt penis testis xy high low feminine biased towards receiving feminine submissive mtf trans, heter yes
sissy-gurl, hijra, fa'afafine penis testis xy high low feminine receiving feminine submissive sissy, shemale, hetero no
mtf cross-dresser penis testis xy high low feminine biased towards receiving feminine biased towards submissive hetero, cross-dresser no
ftm trans op+hrt penis none xx high, hrt low masculine predominantly penetrating masculine dominant hetero, ftm trans yes
m. gay bottom, khanith, māhū, ikwekaazo penis testis xy high low biased towards feminine receiving masculine submissive homosexual no
m. gay top penis testis xy high low masculine penetrating masculine dominant homosexual no
male hetero penis testis xy high low masculine penetrating masculine dominant heterosexual no

it is considered that gender-fluid and two-spirits (indigenous North American Nations) can manifest both as masculine and feminine and each manifestation corresponds to one of the classified groups. ftm = female-to-male; mtf=male-to-female; op=srs=sex reassignment surgery; hrt=hormone replacement therapy; trans=transexual; ininiikaazo name is used by Ojibwe people; hijra name used in India, Pakistan; fa'afafine name used in Polynesia; khanith name is used in Oman; māhū name is used in Hawai; ikwekaazo name is used by Ojibwe people.

Notes and references
  1. "A review of cross-gender taxonomies shows that previous observers have identified and labeled a homosexual type far more consistently than any other category of male gender dysphoric."
    Ray Blanchard, "The classification and labeling of nonhomosexual gender dysphorias", Archives of Sexual Behavior 18/4 (1989): 315–334.
  2. Devor, H (1994). "Toward a Taxonomy of Gendered Sexuality". Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality. 6: 23–55. doi:10.1300/J056v06n01_03.
  3. "Human Chromosomal Abnormalities: Sex Chromosome Abnormalities". anthro.palomar.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-22.


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