It's definitely
a big signifier . It's one of the main ways people gender identify others, consciously and subconsciously. It's not simply about the distance, it's about the way the upper lip tends to be turned upwards in females, typically showing a small gap, and female lips tend to be fuller and with a slight cupid's bow. These factors are key markers for how people gender identify others as male or female.
As you know, I can't stand AI but here's your Google AI:
"The upper lip is a key gender marker in facial aesthetics, with specific, measurable differences between male and female anatomy. Female upper lips are generally characterized as shorter, fuller, and more defined compared to male lips. In the context of gender-affirming care, shortening and augmenting the upper lip is a primary objective of facial feminization, as it significantly impacts the perception of femininity."
On a better footing here's an academic peer-reviewed article on exactly this point for transgender women:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11345901/ 🔗The Background to the piece puts it like this:
'Facial feminization involves a broad array of procedures tailored to transgender women, with lip feminization emerging as a crucial element because of its significant impact on gender expression. Despite its importance, there is a dearth of studies singularly dedicated to lip feminization within this demographic.'
And here's another piece from an admittedly less objective aesthetic site:
'
https://imgender.com/en/the-importance-of-lips-in-facial-feminization/' 🔗;
'The shape and proportions of the lips largely influence whether a face appears more masculine or feminine. Fuller lips with a well-defined cupid's bow, more volume and projection are typically associated with a feminine face. The distance between the upper lip and the nose, along with the folds in this area, are also indicators of femininity.'
