The gender of the user matters. Period.

Designing gender-inclusive products require us to affirm gender-diverse identities rather than erase them.

Photo from Orana Velarde, What Is Gender-Neutral Design? Here’s How and When to Use It

I recently read the UX Collective’s 100 Design Lessons for 2021 and was quite upset to find that apparently a user’s gender no longer matters in 2021. While the sentiment is well-intentioned, the impact of those intentions could have detrimental effects on the LGBTQ+ community and erase gender-diverse identities from our products. In this article, I will explain how ignoring gender identity is harmful to the LGBTQ+ community, the historical context behind gender identity, and working solutions toward creating more gender-inclusive products.

Introduction

“When it comes to diversity, our good intentions are only the beginning.” — Bethaney Wilkinson, Creator of the Diversity Gap

I am proud and excited that we are at a point in time where gender identity is being discussed at the forefront of the design community. With an ever-growing emphasis on inclusive and ethical design, it is imperative that designers consider the needs and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community when building products.