Xtra Explains: When do kids figure out gender?

When does a young person know if they’re a girl or a boy—or neither? 

With trans youth and the issues impacting them all over the news, it’s fair to wonder at what age kids actually start to understand what gender is and how they fit into the whole system. 

As part of our series Xtra Explains: Trans Youth, senior editor Mel Woods breaks down everything you need to know about kids, age and gender—including what the research says about when young people start to figure things out.

Check out other explainers on topics like sports and social contagion theory on our website, YouTube channel and TikTok. And check out the full list of sources cited in Xtra Explains here.