persongender

Persongender is a term used by some individuals to describe their personal gender identity. It is not a fixed category in mainstream gender theory and does not have a single, universally accepted definition. Instead, persongender emphasizes the deeply personal and individualized nature of gender, as experienced by the person who uses the label.

The concept derives from the combination of the words “person” and “gender,” signaling that gender is seen as an aspect of selfhood that may be distinct from conventional social categories. People who describe themselves as persongender may do so because traditional labels (such as man, woman, nonbinary, or other established identities) do not fully capture their lived experience. For some, persongender serves as a flexible or central way to express their sense of self, rather than as a rigid classification.

Pronoun use among people who identify as persongender varies. They may choose pronouns aligned with traditional gender expressions, such as he/him or she/her, use they/them, or adopt neopronouns. The label is typically about personal identity rather than a prescriptive set of pronouns, and individuals may also identify with other gender labels in addition to persongender.

In discourse, persongender often appears in online communities, personal narratives, and discussions about the diversity of gender experiences. Because meanings can differ between speakers, it is important to respect an individual’s self-description and to ask for their preferred label and pronouns when appropriate. See also: gender identity, nonbinary, pronouns.