Bigender describes a person whose gender encompasses two genders, which may be experienced at the same time or shift over time. The label is often confused with nonbinary, genderfluid or bisexual, but each term means something different. Here’s a straightforward guide to the meaning of bigender, how it can vary from person to person, and how to ask about pronouns respectfully.
The meaning of bigender starts with two genders
Bigender means having a gender identity that encompasses two genders. They might be man and woman, but that isn’t the only possible combination, and people may experience their genders together or at different times. The word describes gender, not whom someone wants to date.
Merriam-Webster distinguishes this identity-related meaning from an older use describing something designed for or including male and female genders. It’s a useful reminder that words can carry different meanings depending on context.
Bigender, nonbinary and genderfluid aren’t interchangeable
Bigender names two genders. Genderfluid describes a gender that can change, so someone who moves between two genders might use both terms. But a person who experiences two genders together may use bigender without describing their gender as fluid.
The University of California, Berkeley’s Centers for Educational Justice and Community Engagement notes that bigender identities aren’t limited to man and woman, and that people’s understandings of the label can vary. GLAAD, meanwhile, describes nonbinary as a broader term and lists bigender among the more specific labels some nonbinary people use.
There’s a similar distinction between gender and sexual orientation. Berkeley’s glossary describes bisexuality in terms of attraction to more than one gender, while bigender is about a person’s own gender. Someone could use both labels, but neither tells you whether they use the other.
Pronouns are personal, so ask rather than guess
There’s no single set of pronouns for bigender people. GLAAD’s guidance supports the broader point that an identity label doesn’t predict someone’s pronouns, while the Trans Journalists Association advises using the pronouns a person identifies.
If someone shares more than one set, you can ask whether they’d like you to alternate or prefer one set in particular. Don’t assume that they/them is the right substitute if someone uses different pronouns. A simple, respectful question is often the clearest route.
A familiar pride flag, with one key unknown
One widely recognised bigender pride flag has pink, purple, white and blue stripes. The Human Rights Campaign includes the design in its pride-flags guide, but says its creator is unknown.
That means precise claims about who designed it or when should be treated cautiously unless they’re supported by reliable information. And a flag isn’t a test: people may use different designs, or none at all, without that deciding whether their identity is valid.
Research offers context, not a definition
A 2012 paper by Laura Case and V. S. Ramachandran proposed a biological explanation for some reported experiences of alternating genders. Its authors presented the idea as a hypothesis, not an established cause or a diagnostic test for bigender identity.
PubMed’s record describes the paper as focused on people reporting alternating gender experiences. That limited focus can’t represent everyone who uses the bigender label, including people who experience two genders together or as a steady blend. One study shouldn’t be treated as the definition of an identity.
The simplest guide is also the most useful: take people’s own words as your starting point, and ask when you’re unsure.
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