![]() In my mind, it was a necessary evil that I had created and to which I had succumbed. Even though I spent the vast majority of my life walking the fence between being a man and being a woman, it was not due to gender-fluidity that I did so. If I had to give myself a label, it would be "Binary Transgender Woman." I don't know, though, if I should now change that to "Gender-Solid Transgender Woman. To be gender-fluid is chiefly a question of internal personal identity, and is, therefore, a psychological phenomenon. In 2014, Gender Fluid and gender-fluid were added as gender options to Facebook and OkCupid, respectively.Ī person isn’t considered gender-fluid just because they like to wear typically masculine clothing one day and feminine clothing the next day-that is considered a form of gender expression. Social media has begun to catch up with the changing understanding, and growing acceptance, of non-binary gender. In 2018, this increased to a staggering 2.3 million. By 2011, gender-fluid had 37,000 hits on Google. This was also the time when millennials, of whom 12% identify as non-cisgender, were beginning to come of age. The late 2000's and the 2010's were when the term truly began to be noticed, venturing somewhat out of online forums, especially in academic literature. Online communities, because of their private yet communal nature, were safe places for LGBTQ people and are where many first encountered the word gender-fluid. The mid-1990's into the early 2000's was when trans identities, like gender-fluid identities, were finding their footing. Gender-fluid is a non-binary gender identity that’s not fixed and is capable of changing over time. So is “gender-fluid” the new cross-dressing?ĭ gives us insight into the etymology of gender-fluid. My need for expression, acceptance and interaction runs much deeper than erotic relief. I never thought I was a true transsexual (born in the wrong body), but always knew I was not just cross-dressing. ![]() We have all come to understand that gender is truly a spectrum and what may work for someone today, may not be best for tomorrow. No declarations needed.Īs these two, “must-fit-all", terms finally fade into obscurity I personally like the transgender descriptor. That is why the two groups I founded were open, allowing anyone to attend. Several groups that I attended were never comfortable with my presentation/attending and my not declaring which category I represented. There were support groups, of that day, that discriminated and excluded you from attending if you were transitioning or transsexual. Everyone had to fit into either of those categories. It seemed I could not escape, "The Question".īack then you were either a cross-dresser or a transsexual and transitioning bridged the two. On evenings when I was not well put-together I was asked: “Are you transitioning?" On good presentation evenings, I was asked: “How long since you transitioned?” Attending support group meeting and conventions were a critical element in building confidence. The collection is titled “The Lion’s Heart” for the bold colors and brave patterns – and let’s face it, with all the haters out there, it can take some guts to be an androgynous or transgender kid.I remember my early day of venturing out as Rhonda in the early '80s. The promotional materials feature a boy with stars painted on his cheeks in a pink shirt hugging another boy wearing the collection’s signature “Love You” sweatshirt. Garments are not separated or color-coded by gender, and models of all genders wear the same clothing. In partnership with chic children’s clothing boutique Gardner and the Gang, King has released a kid’s clothing collection that, besides being adorable, is also completely gender-fluid. Now, thanks to actress Jaime King, kids can dress in genderfluid swag too. ![]() The fashion industry has periodically returned to androgyny as a trendy stylistic touchstone, and there have, for a long time, been companies specializing in making gender-neutral or trans-friendly clothing. ![]() It should be a no-brainer by now that gender roles are simply that – roles.Īdults and kids alike are insisting upon androgyny, and transgender kids are coming out earlier and earlier these days and getting the support they need. Underlying both the desire to secure trans rights, as well as the hateful backlash against trans people, is an overall cultural movement towards gender neutrality that has its’ roots in the women’s and gay liberation movements of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and is being thrust forward by the work of powerful feminist and trans gender activism. Read also: Target gets hammered for gender neutral bathrooms, other brands quietly follow suit
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