Apagender, or gender apathetic, refers to a person’s indifference toward their own gender identity. Those who are apagender do not mind what gender they appear to be to other people.
It is not the same as being agender, which means that a person identifies as having no gender.
This article reviews what it means to be apagender and explains how a person can learn more.
Apagender is a type of nonbinary identity. People may also use the term anvisgender. Nonbinary refers to gender identities that do not fall under the male and female gender binary.
According to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), gender refers to the socially constructed attitudes, feelings, expressions, and behaviors that a culture assigns to a person’s sex. For some people, their gender identity can affect how they see themselves and those around them.
Those who identify as apagender are apathetic toward how their gender appears to others. They do not mind which gender other people perceive them to be.
Apagender vs. agender
Although both of these terms refer to types of nonbinary genders, they do not mean the same thing.
Stonewall — a charity based in the United Kingdom that supports people from LGBTQ+ communities — notes that agender refers to people who actively identify with having no gender. Agender people may also use the following terms:
- gender neutral
- neutrois
- genderless
A person who identifies as agender may prefer others to refer to them using gender-neutral pronouns, such as they and them.
Apagender means that a person is apathetic about which gender people think they are and does not feel strongly about what pronouns other people use to refer to them.
Apagender refers to a person who identifies as being apathetic about their own gender. This means that the person may use pronouns interchangeably and not mind if another person does the same.
They may choose to use he/his or she/her pronouns, or they may prefer to use neutral pronouns, such as they/them.
Alternatively, given the lack of distinct gender-neutral pronouns in the English language, an apagender person may prefer others to refer to them using neopronouns, such as zie, zim, zir, zirs, and zieself.
However, when unsure, it is always important to ask a person to confirm their pronouns.
Gender exists on a spectrum, and the language that a person uses to describe their gender identity can change over time.
As the CIHR points out, gender refers to a social identity based on feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. A person who identifies as apagender is apathetic toward how others perceive their gender.
People may be apagender if they feel that this term fits them best.
A person looking to learn more about nonbinary identities may find the following organizations beneficial:
- Asexual Visibility and Education Network: This website provides forums and information where a person can interact with people who identify as apagender or other types of gender.
- Trans Student Educational Resources: This website offers an infographic that helps explain gender and differences in identities.
- GenderSpectrum: This website offers several resources to people who are gender-sensitive and supportive. It can be a good place to start to find information about the differences between genders.
- Terrence Higgins Trust: This U.K.-based charity provides resources and information for nonbinary and trans people.
A person who is having difficulty identifying their gender identity or needs additional support may find counseling beneficial. They may wish to look for a professional who has experience working with people from LGBTQIA+ communities.
Supporting a friend or family member who is nonbinary is important.
GLAAD recommends that a person help support friends or family who are nonbinary by:
- being willing to listen and talk
- being open-minded
- ensuring that they are being inclusive
People should also try:
- looking up a glossary of terms to familiarize themselves with the language
- researching the history of LGBTQIA+ activism
- becoming involved with LGBTQIA+ communities
Apagender, also known as gender apathetic, is a type of gender identity in which a person does not mind what gender they are or which pronouns others use to refer to them.
It is not the same as being agender. An agender person identifies as not having a gender.