“What gender identity do you most closely identify with?” is a question asking which gender label feels most true to a person’s internal sense of self. Gender identity can mean man, woman, both, neither, non-binary, transgender, agender, or another identity, and it’s separate from sex assigned at birth and from sexual orientation.

Plain meaning

In everyday use, the question is basically asking: “How do you personally identify in terms of gender?” Gender identity is described as a deeply felt inner sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere in between.

Common answers

People might answer with:

  • Man or woman.
  • Non-binary.
  • Transgender.
  • Agender.
  • Gender fluid.
  • Prefer not to say.

Important distinction

This question is not asking about:

  • Sexual orientation, which is about attraction.
  • Gender expression, which is how someone presents themselves through clothes, voice, or style.
  • Sex assigned at birth, which is a medical classification at birth.

Example

If someone says, “I identify as non-binary,” they mean their gender does not fit neatly into only “man” or “woman.” If someone says, “I’m a woman,” they mean that is the gender identity they most closely identify with.

TL;DR

The phrase means: “Which gender identity best describes you?” It’s a personal question about how someone understands their own gender.