AMAB and AFAB: Understanding Assignment at Birth and Gender Identity
Definition : You've probably already come across these acronyms, AMAB for "Assigned Male At Birth" and AFAB for "Assigned Female At Birth".
- Keywords
- AMAB, AFAB, Assigned Male At Birth, Assigned Female At Birth, assignment, gender identity, assignment at birth
- Topics
- LGBTQ+ Terminology and Concepts
- Updated
What do the acronyms AMAB and AFAB mean?
You’ve probably already come across these acronyms, AMAB for “Assigned Male At Birth” and AFAB for “Assigned Female At Birth”. It’s a technical way of talking about this famous assignment.
Why is it important to understand the distinction between AMAB/AFAB and gender identity?
These terms never define a person. We don’t say “an AMAB” to refer to a trans woman, just as we don’t say “an AFAB” to refer to a trans man. A person is not their assignment. It’s just information about their past, an administrative detail that is only mentioned if truly necessary.
In what contexts is the use of AMAB and AFAB appropriate?
The use of these terms is appropriate, for example, in a specific medical context, where information about assignment at birth may be relevant.
What common mistakes should be avoided when using AMAB and AFAB?
Using these acronyms as names is to reduce the person to the box they were forced into at birth, and to deny who they are today. It is crucial to respect a person’s current gender identity rather than defining them by their assignment at birth.