The language of gender and sexuality is a shifting, ever-evolving terrain marked by an appreciable degree of nuance and, on occasion, contestation (see, for example, Julia Serano's blog post, "Regarding Trans* and Transgenderism").
It's important to note that there is sometimes a lag in academic language--compared to that used colloquially.
Heed subject headings in catalogs and databases that employ outdated terminology or assign inaccurate or incorrect terms (see, for example, the articles "How subjects matter: The Kinsey Institute's Sexual Nomenclature: A Thesaurus (1976)" or "Transcending Library Catalogs."
For a broader view on how gender is inscribed in language around the world and how modern language use is changing to incorporate nonbinary gender identities, see the interactive piece from Reuters called "Beyond pronouns: How languages are reshaping to include non-binary and gender-nonconforming people." Source: Reuters Graphics
References
Adler, M. (2009). Transcending Library Catalogs: A Comparative Study of Controlled Terms in Library of Congress Subject Headings and User-Generated Tags in LibraryThing for Transgender Books. Journal of Web Librarianship, 3(4), 309-331. DOI:10.1080/19322900903341099
Drucker, D. J. (2017). How subjects matter: the Kinsey Institute's Sexual Nomenclature: A Thesaurus (1976). Information & Culture, 52(2), 207+. http://dx.doi.org/10.7560/IC52204
When searching most Library online Catalogs (i.e., OneSearch, CSU+, and WorldCat) use Library of Congress Subject Terms to describe the contents of a book. Using these "official" terms or "controlled vocabulary" can sometimes improve search results.
You can use colloquial AKA "natural" or everyday language with some results but the more formal terminology (subject terms) or a combination may yield greater results. Give it a try by clicking on the links below to search for books in OneSearch, or here to experiment and add these terms to an advanced search in OneSearch. Ask a Librarian to assist if you need help.
Some official Library of Congress subject terms relating to gender include:
The Homosaurus is an international linked data vocabulary of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) terms. This vocabulary is intended to function as a companion to broad subject term vocabularies, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions are encouraged to use the Homosaurus to support LGBTQ research by enhancing the discoverability of their LGBTQ resources.
