samenghangender

Samenghangender is a Dutch neologism used in discussions of gender identity. The term generally describes a person whose gender identity includes multiple genders in a way that cannot be reduced to a single label. This can manifest as a blended sense of self that incorporates elements from several genders, or as a flexible, context-dependent identity that shifts over time or across situations. The exact definition varies among speakers and communities.

Etymologically, the word combines samen meaning “together” with hangender, a constructed form referring to a person who is gendered. It is not an officially standardized term in gender studies and has no universally accepted criteria, leading to variation in how it is applied in different contexts.

Usage and representation vary accordingly. People who identify as samenghangender may indicate multiple pronouns or fluctuating pronoun usage; they may describe their gender as multi-faceted, layered, or context-dependent. Social and legal recognition of samenghangender identities also varies by country and institution, and existing documentation practices may not consistently accommodate this expression.

Relation to other concepts is close but not identical. Samenghangender overlaps with nonbinary, multigender, pangender, and polygender, as well as with genderfluid and bigender identities. In some circles it is used as an umbrella term for multiplicity, while in others it denotes a specific, cohesive self-concept rather than a mere spectrum of possibilities.

Reception is mixed. Proponents view samenghangender as a useful descriptor for multiplicity; critics point to a lack of standardization that can hinder communication or risk essentializing identities. The term remains more prevalent in informal discourse and certain academic or activist milieus.

See also: non-binary, multigender, pangender, polygender, genderfluid, bigender.