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Mental health

Gender and sexuality

Many people start thinking about who they are at a young age. You might ask yourself: What do I want? Who do I want to be? Who am I attracted to? This journey of discovery is not black and white. Everyone is different when it comes to gender and sexual orientation. That makes each person unique.

Doubts and feelings

It's normal to have questions about your gender or sexuality. You might not be sure who you are yet, or you may not feel comfortable with the gender you were born with. Many young people feel this way.

Sometimes these feelings can lead to problems, such as feeling low, anxious, or unsure about yourself. It’s important to know: you are not alone.

Do you feel different from the gender you were assigned at birth? Are you looking for mental health support or thinking about changing your gender? Then make an appointment with your GP. They can refer you to specialist care.

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What can you do?

  • Take your time. You don't have to know exactly who you are right away. Discover it step by step
  • Talk about it. Write down how you feel, or talk to someone you trust. That can help you feel better
  • Find support. Would you rather talk to someone outside your own circle? Or are you looking for information or contact with others? Then check the websites and organisations listed at the bottom of this page

What are gender and sexuality?

Gender is about qualities that people often call masculine or feminine. But gender is more than that. It’s also about how you feel inside and which gender fits you best — this is called your gender identity.

Sexuality is about who you feel attracted to. This can be about love, romance and/or sex. Everyone experiences sexuality in their own way. You might feel attracted to people of the same gender, a different gender, more than one gender, or to no one at all.

There are many words and terms related to gender and sexuality. These terms can mean different things to different people, and their meanings can change over time. Below, you can find explanations of some common terms.

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Important terms

This is how you see yourself. Do you feel like a man, a woman, both, neither, or something in between? That is your gender identity.

    • Cisgender: you feel the same as the gender you were born with
    • Transgender: you feel different from the gender you were born with
    • Non-binary / genderqueer / gender-fluid: you don't feel like a man or a woman, but something else or a mix
    This is the general term for the many different ways people experience gender.
    This is how you show your gender to others — for example, through your clothes, the way you speak, or how you move. Your gender expression doesn’t have to match your gender identity or your body. These can be different.

    This is about who you feel sexually or romantically attracted to.

    • Heterosexual (straight): you are attracted to people of the opposite gender
    • Homosexual (gay or lesbian): you are attracted to people of the same gender
    • Bisexual: you are attracted to more than one gender
    • Pansexual: you are attracted to people, no matter their gender
    • Asexual: you feel little or no sexual attraction
    This means telling others about your gender identity or sexual orientation. This can feel good, because it feels like you can finally be yourself. But it can also be scary, because it might be that not everyone has a positive response to it. You decide yourself if, when, and how you want to do this. Talk about it with someone you trust or look for information online.

    Do you have any comments about the terms or the explanations? Please reach out to: studentcommunicatie@fontys.nl.

    There is a lot of information about gender and sexuality these days, but not everything is clear or reliable. Check the links at the bottom of this page for trusted sources. Reading stories from others can also help you understand yourself better. Many people share their experiences online. By talking, reading, and exploring what feels right for you, you can learn more about who you are.

    Self-learning modules

    At Fontys, there are online self-help modules that can support you if you’re not feeling well.
    They cover topics like dealing with anxiety, building self-esteem, or living according to your values.

    These modules are not made especially for questions about gender or sexuality, but they can still help if you feel stress, insecurity or other emotions because of these topics.

    If your problems don’t get better (or get worse), always ask for professional help. You can contact your GP or a student psychologist (check Contact).

    Anxiety 

    If you often feel anxious or have panic attacks, you’re not alone. This self-help module can help you understand and manage your anxiety, so it doesn’t get worse.

    Go to the Anxiety and panic module
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    Self-image 

    If you often doubt yourself or feel not good enough, this module can help. You'll learn to understand your self-image and become kinder to yourself.

    Go to the Self-image module
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    Resilience

    Want to build more resilience? This module helps you understand how you react to setbacks and teaches you how to deal with them better in the future.

    Go to the Resilience module
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    Go to all modules

    Contact team Student Guidance 

    • If your gender or sexuality is affecting your mental well-being, make an appointment with your GP or a student psychologist.
    • If your mental well-being is affecting your study progress, please book an appointment with a student counselor.
    Book an appointment