FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about gender, sex, transition care, and the public debate surrounding these topics.
What is the difference between gender and sex?
Sex is a biological fact determined at conception by chromosomes and expressed in anatomy, hormones, and reproductive cells. Gender is a sociological concept that refers to the roles, behaviors, and expectations that a culture assigns to men and women. In academic gender theory, the two are deliberately distinguished—in practice, activists merge them again under the assumption that gender takes precedence over biological sex.
How many sexes are there according to biology?
Two. The biological definition of sex revolves around which sex cells an organism produces—small, motile (male) or large, non-motile (female). There is no third category of sex cells. Intersex conditions (DSD) are deviations from the binary developmental trajectory, not separate sexes—and occur in approximately 0.02% of the population.
What is non-binary?
Non-binary is an umbrella term for people who do not identify exclusively as male or female. It is self-declared and cannot be medically tested. The group has grown explosively among Western youth cohorts over the past decade, leading critics to suspect a social pressure mechanism rather than an underlying identity. See /genderidentities/non-binary/.
What is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is the psychiatric diagnosis (DSM-5, 2013) for severe distress arising from the perceived mismatch between biological sex and gender identity. The diagnosis requires that the distress last at least six months and interfere with social functioning—but in practice, it is now applied much more loosely. See GD and ROGD.
What are puberty blockers and what is the problem with them?
Puberty blockers are GnRH analogs that interrupt hormonal puberty. They were presented as a reversible “pause button,” but nearly all children who receive them subsequently proceed to cross-sex hormones—which makes the choice de facto irreversible. The Cass Review concluded in 2024 that the scientific evidence for widespread use in adolescents is insufficient.
What does the Cass Review entail?
An independent four-year review of NHS care for young people with gender dysphoria, led by Dr. Hilary Cass. The final report (April 2024) concludes that the evidence base for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in minors is “remarkably weak,” and that the affirming care model is methodologically unsound. Source: cass.independent-review.uk. See also /topics/cass-review/.
What is detransitioning?
Detransition is the reversal—to the extent possible—of a previous transition. Hormonal changes are partially reversible, while surgical procedures usually are not. The group of detransitioners is visibly growing, especially among young women who began transitioning as teenagers. Their stories are often dismissed as anecdotal, but systematic research (including that of Lisa Littman) confirms the pattern. See /topics/detransition/.
Is intersex a third gender?
No. Intersex—medically known as DSD (Disorders of Sex Development)—is a collection of rare conditions in which sex development deviates from the typical binary pattern. In the vast majority of cases, the individual can still be clearly classified as male or female. Many intersex organizations actually oppose the inclusion of DSD under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.
What does “trans women are women” mean?
It is the central slogan of the modern trans movement: a biological man who identifies as a woman must be treated fully as a woman—linguistically, legally, and in all spaces. Critics, including many feminists, argue that this conflicts with biological reality and with existing protections for women-only spaces in sports, prisons, and shelters. See TIM and /topics/trans-in-sports/.
What is a TERF?
TERF stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist and was coined in 2008 as a descriptive term. In practice, it has become a slur for any woman who is critical of self-identification or transition care for children—even if she makes no “radical” claims. Writers such as J.K. Rowling, Kathleen Stock, and Helen Joyce are routinely labeled as such. See /abbreviations/terf/.
Is “gender-affirming care” the same as regular care?
No, and that is the crux of the criticism. In standard care, a doctor evaluates the complaint against an independent diagnosis. In “gender-affirming care,” the patient’s self-diagnosis becomes the starting point—the doctor affirms and facilitates. This is not the protocol for any other mental health condition—anorexia, body dysmorphia. The Cass Review explicitly calls the affirming model methodologically irresponsible. See /abbreviations/gac/.
Is it still permissible to be critical of gender theory?
Legally, yes—in the United Kingdom, “gender-critical belief” has been protected as a belief system since 2021 (Forstater v. CGD Europe). Socially, it’s a different story: professors, journalists, and ordinary workers have lost their jobs after expressing doubts. In the Netherlands, legal protection is less explicit, but the social pressure to remain silent is comparable. See /topics/canceling/ and GC.
Why is this site called Alfabetbende?
"Alfabetbende" is a term used by critics to refer to the LGBTQ+ movement—referring to the ever-expanding series of letters (LGB, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA+, LGBTQQIP2SAA…). The name was deliberately chosen to set the tone of the site: critical of the ideology, not of individuals. See /abbreviations/ for the complete overview.
How does this site relate to Genderinfo, Genderballast, and Genderellende?
Genderinfo offers broad background information. Genderballast documents the societal costs. Genderellende describes individual harm. Alfabetbende dissects the expanding ABC of identities and the associated acronyms, always with a critical commentary.