Who decides what gender I am?

A person’s gender is something only they can know. As a result, finding one’s own gender identity and having it recognized by others is a human right. However, every infant born in Germany still receives an entry in the register of births determined solely by their physical characteristics. As a consequence, many individuals experience a mismatch between their legal gender marker and their gender identity. Since 2024, individuals in Germany have been able to correct their legal gender marker and change their names by making a simple declaration to the civil registrar. That way, everyone can now determine their own gender.

My research explores the practical implementation of this system and the broader implications of gender determinations in law. Additionally, I examine the impact of the German Act on Self-Determination on our contemporary understanding of gender. 

Susanna Roßbach
is a senior research fellow at the Institute.
She studies topics of self-determination and gender identity
More on Susanna Roßbach and her research can be found here.