Editing Gender symbols

'''Gender symbols''' are graphic designs that represent a [[gender]], such as the Venus symbol for female, and Mars symbol for male. Symbols for [[nonbinary]] gender identities explore variations on these. This page gives an incomplete list of symbols for gender identities.

==Symbols based on Venus/Mars paradigm==

Like the Venus and Mars symbols for the [[binary genders]], these designs have a large, central circle, just with different prongs, angles, or other details. These designs may also use other astrological symbols.

===Binary gender symbols===

These are the basic symbols of the [[binary genders]].

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
! Symbol
! Description
! Unicode
|-
| [[File:Venus symbol.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
| The Venus symbol, for [[women]]. Depicts the handmirror or distaff of the Roman goddess of love. Alchemical symbol for copper.
| U+2640 ♀
|-
| [[File:Mars symbol.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
| The Mars symbol, for [[men]]. Depicts the shield and spear of the Roman god of war. Alchemical symbol for iron.
| U+2642 ♂
|}

===Transgender symbols===

The transgender symbol has a combination of female, male, and mixed symbols.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
! Symbol
! Description
! Unicode
|-
| [[File:A TransGender-Symbol Plain2.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
| The transgender symbol. A mix of female (Venus), male (Mars), and androgyne (Venus and Mars mixed). This symbol was designed in the 1990s by [[Holly Boswell]], Wendy Parker, and Nancy R. Nangeroni. A specific version-- blue, with rounded line ends, on a lavender triangle-- belongs to Nangeroni, but otherwise the symbol belongs to none and can be used freely.<ref>Nancy R. Nangeroni. "Transgender symbol." July 1994. [http://www.gendertalk.com/tg-symbol/ http://www.gendertalk.com/tg-symbol/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230617223155/http://www.gendertalk.com/tg-symbol/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>
| U+26A7 ⚧
|-
| [[File:Transfeminism symbol.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
| [[Transfeminism]] symbol, combining the transgender symbol with the feminism symbol (a Venus symbol containing a fist of power).
|
|-
| [[File:TransGender Equality-Symbol black-and-white.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
| Transgender equality symbol.
|
|-
|[[File:Transcommunist symbol.svg|frameless|128x128px]]
|The transcommunist symbol, combining the traditional transgender symbol with the communist hammer and sickle, indicating transgender support of communism and/or queer liberation.
|
|}

===Ambiguous symbols===

There are several common symbols that don't have clearly defined meanings, and may be used to represent various different concepts.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
!Symbol
!Description
!Unicode
|-
|[[File:Another hermaphrodite symbol transparent.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|Symbol for a mix of female (Venus) and male (Mars). Can mean [[intersex]] or [[transgender]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Symbols|author=lucas|date=26 July 2006 |url=http://societies.dsu.ca/DalOUT/resources/symbolsdoc |archive-date=21 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821235501/http://societies.dsu.ca/DalOUT/resources/symbolsdoc}}</ref> Botanical symbol for [[hermaphrodite]]. This symbol is also used to represent bigender individuals whose two genders are female and male.<ref name="Cari" /><ref name="Silence">{{Cite web |title=Gender Symbols + Orientation Symbols |author=SilenceTheFox |work=DeviantArt |date=13 February 2019 |access-date=10 June 2020 |url= https://www.deviantart.com/silencethefox/art/Gender-Symbols-Orientation-Symbols-785530334 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203173405/https://www.deviantart.com/silencethefox/art/Gender-Symbols-Orientation-Symbols-785530334 |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> Can also be interpreted as representing [[heterosexuality]].<ref>[https://emojipedia.org/male-and-female-sign/ ⚥ Male and Female Sign], Emojipedia, retrieved 15 November 2020 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230522215301/https://emojipedia.org/male-and-female-sign/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>
|U+26A5 ⚥
|-
|[[File:Gender-Symbol Hermaphrodite Androgyne dark transparent Background.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Androgyne]], [[intersex]], or [[other gender]] symbol. Made from female (Venus) and male (Mars) symbols. Can point other directions, but meanings of this aren't agreed upon. Also the alchemical symbol for iron sulfate.
|U+26A8 ⚨ or U+26A6 ⚦ or U+26A9 ⚩
|}

===Nonbinary gender identity symbols===

These are symbols for specific nonbinary gender identities. Listed in alphabetical order.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
!Symbol
!Description
!Unicode
|-
|[[File:Agender symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|An [[agender]] symbol made by tumblr user system-lgbt.
|U+2205 ∅
|-
|[[File:Aliagender symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|An [[aliagender]] symbol designed by a group of non-binary Brazilians in 2014.<ref name="Cari" />
|
|-
|[[File:Demiboy symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A [[demiboy]] symbol designed by a group of non-binary Brazilians in 2014.<ref name="Cari" /> It is a Mars symbol with half of the extending arrow removed.
|
|-
|[[File:Demigirl symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A [[demigirl]] symbol designed by a group of non-binary Brazilians in 2014.<ref name="Cari" /> It is a Venus symbol with half of the extending cross removed.
|
|-
|[[File:Genderfluid symbol 1.png|frameless|thumb|80px]] [[File:Genderfluid symbol 2.png|frameless|thumb|80px]] [[File:Genderfluid symbol 3.png|frameless|thumb|80px]]
|Various [[genderfluid]] symbols made by tumblr user system-lgbt.
|
|-
|[[File:Genderqueer symbol.jpeg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|An interlocked 'G' and 'Q' symbolizing the [[genderqueer]] identity. Dates back to at least 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gqsymbolproudava.png|title=File:Gqsymbolproudava.png|work=Wikimedia Commons|quote=Date: 3 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618214918/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gqsymbolproudava.png|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>
|
|-
|[[File:Nonbinary gender symbol.gif|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A gender symbol meant to represent [[nonbinary]] individuals specifically. The use of the "x" was a decision made by the [http://genderqueerid.com/post/27216986889/cakemeister-because-people-seem-to-like-it creator] (Johnathan R), in 2012, due to the rise of use of "x" as a letter that represents nonbinary individuals both legally and in [[pronouns]] and titles.
|
|-
|[[File:Gender-Symbol Neutrois dark transparent Background.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|An [[agender]] symbol. Also a [[neuter]] or [[neutrois]] symbol. Based on Venus and Mars symbols, but with no prongs.
|U+26AA ⚪
|-
|[[File:Gender-Symbol Neutrois Alternative dark transparent Background.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A [[neutrois]] or [[neuter]] gender symbol, the latter used in botany. Also an older version of the Venus symbol.
|U+26B2 ⚲
|-
|[[File:Neutrois Outpost symbol.jpg|alt=Neutrois Outpost Symbol - a purple triagle pointing doenwards, with a blue circle inside, and a smaller blue circle above connected to the triangle by a line|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Neutrois]] symbol used by the ''Neutrois Outpost'' in 2000. The circles represent a null gender. Additionally, the lavender triangle is for pride in [[LGBT]] identity.<ref>Axey, Qwill, Rave, and Luscious Daniel, eds. “FAQ.” ''Neutrois Outpost''. Last updated 2000-11-23. Retrieved 2001-03-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20010307115554/http://www.neutrois.com/faq.htm</ref>
|
|-
|[[File:Neutrois_null_symbol.png‎|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A [[neutrois]] symbol. Can be seen as a variation on the Venus and Mars symbols that omits the prongs of either. Null or empty set symbol.
|U+2205 ∅
|-
|[[File:Comet-sym.svg.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|The astronomical symbol for comets used as a [[nonbinary]] symbol. Proposed because the male and female signs are both signs for planets.
|U+2604 ☄
|-
|[[File:Nby man.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|
[[Nonbinary man]] symbol created by a tumblr user named Aster in 2018. It is a Mars symbol with an asterisk inside the circle.
|
|-
|[[File:Nby woman.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Nonbinary woman]] symbol created by a tumblr user named Aster in 2018. It is a Venus symbol with an asterisk inside the circle.
|
|-
|[[File:Gender-Symbol Other dark transparent Background.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Other gender]] symbol.
|
|-
|[[File:Pangender symbol bw.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Pangender]] symbol.
|
|-
|[[File:Sissy Gender Symbol PNG.png|frameless|100px]]
|Symbol for those who use [[Sissy]] as a gender identity. Replaces the masculine spear icon with a feather duster.
|
|-
|[[File:Solarian symbol.png|frameless|100px]]
|A symbol for [[Galactian_system#Solarian|solarian]] nonbinary people. It is a minimalist representation of the Sun.
|
|-
|[[File:Third gender symbol.png|frameless|100px]]
|A [[third gender]] symbol designed by a group of non-binary Brazilians in 2014.<ref name="Cari">{{Cite web |title=Gender Symbols |author=Cari-Rez-Lobo |work=DeviantArt |date=2 October 2014 |access-date=10 June 2020 |url= https://www.deviantart.com/cari-rez-lobo/art/Gender-Symbols-486052086|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618204353/https://www.deviantart.com/cari-rez-lobo/art/Gender-Symbols-486052086 |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> It is made of two shapes, a small triangle and a larger circle, connected by a horizontal line.
|
|}

===More identity symbols===

These symbols are for identities that aren't always seen as nonbinary gender identities, or sometimes even as gender identities. Listed in alphabetical order.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
!Symbol
!Description
!Unicode
|-
|[[File:Butch_symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A [[butch]] symbol designed by a group of non-binary Brazilians in 2014.<ref name="Cari" /> It is a Mars symbol with elongated arms on the arrow.
|
|-
|[[File:Eunuch.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Eunuch]] symbol. A male (Mars) symbol, with the extending arrow detached from the circle.
|
|-
|[[File:Femme_symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A [[femme]] symbol designed by a group of non-binary Brazilians in 2014.<ref name="Cari" /> It is a Venus symbol with longer arms on the cross.
|
|-
|[[File:Gallae.jpg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Gallae]] gender symbol, by Laura Anne Seabrook. Based on the female (Venus) symbol, but also an alchemical symbol for sulfur (representing a fire triangle on a cross of earth)
|U+1F70D   &amp;#128781;
|-
|[[File:Gender-Symbol Intersex Alternative dark transparent Background.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Intersex]] symbol, the astrological symbol for Earth.
|U+1F728 ⴲ
|-
|[[File:Mercury_symbol.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|Mercury symbol, meaning hybrid. Used for intersex people and [[Genderfluid|genderfluid/]][[Gender nonconformity|gender nonconforming]] individuals<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://emojipedia.org/mercury/|title=☿️ Mercury Emoji|website=emojipedia.org|language=en|access-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522215518/https://emojipedia.org/mercury/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cakeworld.info/transsexualism/gender-symbols|title=Gender symbols - Cakeworld|website=www.cakeworld.info|access-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605223914/http://www.cakeworld.info/transsexualism/gender-symbols|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>. Originally used for hermaphroditism; before gender and sex were depicted as separate<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2020-11-04|title=Sex and gender distinction|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sex_and_gender_distinction&oldid=986967614|journal=Wikipedia|language=en|archive-url=False|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>, it also became symbol for androgyny. Depicts the staff of the Roman messenger god, based on the caduceus (below).
|U+263F ☿
|-
|[[File:Caduceus.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
| As a symbolic object, it represents Hermes (or the Roman Mercury), and by extension trades, occupations, or undertakings associated with the god. In later Antiquity, the caduceus provided the basis for the astrological symbol representing the planet Mercury. Thus, through its use in astrology, alchemy, and astronomy it has come to denote the planet and elemental metal of the same name. It is said the wand would wake the sleeping and send the awake to sleep. If applied to the dying, their death was gentle; if applied to the dead, they returned to life.

By extension of its association with Mercury and Hermes, the caduceus is also a recognized symbol of commerce and negotiation, two realms in which balanced exchange and reciprocity are recognized as ideals. This association is ancient, and consistent from the Classical period to modern times. The caduceus is also used as a symbol representing printing, again by extension of the attributes of Mercury (in this case associated with writing and eloquence).
|
|-
|[[File:Gender-Symbol Questioning dark transparent Background.png|frameless|thumb|100px]] [[File:Questioning symbol.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|[[Gender questioning]] symbols. The circle of the female (Venus) and male (Mars) symbols, but instead of their prongs, a question mark shape.
|
|-
|}

==Other kinds of gender symbols==

Some gender symbols aren't based on the Venus and Mars symbols. This can be an intentional choice for those who don't like Venus and Mars symbolism, or to get farther away from the gender binary.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"
!Symbol
!Description
!Unicode
|-
|[[File:Androgyne Necker Cube.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|In 1996, Raphael Carter proposed that this ambiguous geometric shape called the Necker Cube be a symbol for [[Androgyne|androgynes]], "because it is either concave or convex depending on how you look at it."<ref>Raphael Carter, "Angel's Dictionary." July 14, 1996. http://web.archive.org/web/19990427014012/www.chaparraltree.com/raq/angels.shtml</ref><ref>Nat Titman, "The Necker Cube: Symbol for androgyny." June 25, 2011. ''Practical Androgyny.'' http://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230131181750/https://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>
|
|-
|[[File:Plec nieznana.png|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|In some kinds of [[family]] tree diagrams (genograms or pedigrees), a triangle is a symbol for a person whose gender is unknown. It's also for fetuses that were miscarried, or were not yet born when the genogram was drawn. This is as opposed to squares (male) and circles (female).
|
|-
|[[File:Lozenge - black simple.svg|frameless|thumb|100px]]
|A rhombus is a botanical symbol for a plant of unknown sex, as well as a family tree symbol for a person of unknown sex.
|
|}

== See also==
*[[Flags]]
*[[:Category:Gender symbols]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Gender symbols]]