Femaleidentifying

Female-identifying is an adjective used to describe people who identify their gender as female. It signals self-identification rather than anatomy or legal status and is used in social, medical, and research contexts to discuss experiences or data tied to female gender.

The term can include cisgender women and transgender women, as well as others who describe themselves as female. It is often used in surveys and policy discussions to acknowledge that gender identity may not align with sex assigned at birth, while avoiding assumptions about biology. In some settings it also helps discuss phenomena that affect people who identify as female, regardless of legal or biological classification.

Pronouns and language: people who identify as female may use she/her pronouns, but pronoun use should follow an individual’s preference. The phrase is valued for its focus on identity in contexts where terms like “woman” or “girl” may carry different connotations or inclusivity constraints.

Limitations and debates: some people prefer other terms such as “woman-identifying” or simply “woman” to reflect social identity, while others criticize the term as overly clinical or reductive in discussions about gender diversity. Usage varies by community, field, and region, and sensitivity to individual preference is encouraged.