MamSir: On Misgendering, Dignity, and Legal Protections

Abstract

Misgendering refers to a person by pronouns, honorifics, or forms of address that does not correspond to their gender identity—is more than a momentary social lapse: it has documented psychological and sociopolitical consequences. In the Philippine sociocultural context, cases of misgendering highlight the gap between evolving understandings of gender diversity and legal or institutional protections. This article examines the conceptual foundations of misgendering, reviews empirical evidence of its harm, discusses intersectional and structural dynamics, and argues for the urgent passage of a comprehensive SOGIESC Equality Bill.