By definition, a demigirl is someone who identifies with aspects of femininity, says Katherin Winnick, sex coach at LetsTalkSex.net. And demigirls, which is a term interchangeable with demiwomen, demifemale, and demilady, can identify as female however much or however little they'd like.
Most demigirls are AFAB (assigned female at birth), and while their gender identity may lean more toward female, they can also identify as masculine and non-binary. As for demigirls assigned male at birth (AMAB), they may feel a strong connection to being a woman, but not enough to warrant identifying as such or being transgender.
The most important thing to remember is that a demigender’s identity “simply doesn’t fit into the usual binary of the male to female spectrum," explains Winnick.
The difference between demigirl, demisexuality, non-binary, gender fluid, and transgender
Identifying as a demigirl should not be confused with demisexuality, which is a sexuality and not a gender identity. Someone who is demisexual is a person who needs to feel a strong emotional connection with someone in order to feel any sexual attraction to them. And even though the two terms are not related, someone who is a demigirl can also be demisexual.
Moving back to identities, if someone is a demigirl, they can also consider themselves non-binary, as they may identify with being partially male and partially female, says Winnick.
(Remember that non-binary is simply not identifying with what society deems a woman or a man should be, and rejecting all efforts to be boxed in the female or male category, says Courtney D’Allaird, assistant director of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center at the University of Albany, as previously told to Cosmo.)
Gender fluidity, in contrast, is the way someone identifies regardless of how other people see their body as looking, says D’Allaird. This term is reserved for people who experience themselves across multiple spectrums of gender. They can feel as a specific gender one day and then as another gender the next.
And finally, someone who is transgender can identify as a demigirl (or any of the other gender identities). According to GLAAD, transgender is “an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.”
Although coming out to others is a choice, it’s often a good idea to ask a person how they identify just to be respectful. This also includes asking what pronouns they prefer, as demigirls will sometimes use the pronouns she/her or they/them.
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What identifying as a demigirl looks like
Though every individual's journey is different, Winnick describes that an AFAB demigirl can “feel like a boy who is pretty as a girl,” or “feel like a boy who is feminine,” or a “boy that looks like a girl.”
But remember, there’s no specific look to someone who is a demigirl, so again, it’s best to not assume. Wait for the person to tell you they identify as a demigirl and ask them what pronouns they’d prefer.
How to support friends or partners who identify as demigirl
The best thing anyone can do for someone who identifies as a demigirl—or any gender identity and/or sexual orientation—is be supportive, says Winnick.
Just remember that it took a lot for that person to come out to you and their loved ones, so “don’t judge” and “listen to them.” It can do wonders for a person who is struggling to find who they are to simply be accepted. “It will build their trust in you,” adds Winnick.
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Sophia is a freelance writer based in New York City with experience in writing everything from beauty and lifestyle to health and wellness. She hails all the way from Puerto Rico and lately, you’ll find her writing stories that exhaust the Latinx voice in the United States.
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