A breakdown of the term "gender fluid" and why it needs to be normalized

 

"Sometimes I feel like a complete woman, sometimes more of a man, sometimes in between, sometimes a genre": at 16, Alex calls herself "gender fluid". Like many, a growing part of the young generation does not recognize itself in the binarity of genres in our society. Explanations.

Some people do not identify with the two genders that divide our society. According to a poll, 13% of young people between 18 and 30 do not consider themselves to be either a man or a woman. To define themselves, it is the non-binary category that suits 36% of them, while others opt for “gender fluid” (11%), or do not feel they belong to any of the gender categories (8 %). “Gender fluid”, non-binary… Are you lost with these terms? We got you covered.

Gender fluid: a changing identity

Among all these terms that shake up gender norms, the term “gender fluid” is frequently used. This genre is experienced in movement and fluidity.  gender fluid people will typically desire a man, sometimes a lady, other times somebody else. this can be however Alex as an example defines himself, who took advantage of Pride to come back out as gender-fluid “When you are gender-fluid, you sort of switch. 

Sometimes you feel like a "woman" then another day you feel like "a man". I will take my example, but I personally tend to feel a general, genderless (non-binary). But sometimes I feel like a complete woman, on the other hand, it is rarer that I feel like a man. Sometimes there are also some in-between. To feel non-binary, but leaning towards It may seem a general located, but we must not forget that gender is social, that it has been completely constructed rare society ”. He continues: “Now that I have realized-betweenity and that I have come out, I actually feel better about myself, people are interested and that makes me very happy! "

This identity includes any gender identity, so we can go from male to female, but also from female to androgynous, male to female, being in between, etc.d genre is described as fluctuating and flexible.

Gender fluid, non-binary, what are the differences?

Non-binarity is an umbrella term that includes, among other things, people who identify as both male and female, or neither. A non-binary person is a person who does not recognize himself in the established frameworks of the binary gender (man or woman). Gender fluids, on the other hand, recognize the variable character of their gender identity - this can differ depending on space, time, and feeling.

Being gender fluid is therefore different from non-binarity, because in this second case, we are neither male nor female, whereas, in a fluid gender, we oscillate between the two. But the border between these two terms remains fine. Some believe that gender-fluid is a sub-category of non-binarity. However, these gender issues have nothing to do with sexual orientation, and therefore with being gay, lesbian, bi, or pansexual.

Gender fluid: non-gendered names and pronouns

Disregarding gender requires some linguistic innovations. Gender fluid people often choose a unisex first name. Lo 'chose a middle name, Logan, but also wishes to keep her birth name, Angèle. He specifies “My name is Luci and Zack. Thanks to this new name, I finally manage to move forward, a new me, a new beginning ”. Moreover, if we use "they" (the contraction of "he" and "she") since the beginning of this article, it is because individuals whose gender fluctuates appreciate the use of a neutral pronoun. In the United States, we use the singular "they" in English. 

On the social media site too, things are moving.  In the United States, it's currently possible to settle on "man" or "woman" or even "a-gender" or "gender variant" (synonymous with fluid gender) once registering on Facebook.  All you have to do is click on "personalized" and enter your gender in a free field. 

The role of pop culture

Apart from fashion, which has largely taken over the “gender fluid” movement, pop culture also plays an important role. Today, many stars are publicly embracing their gender fluidity. Actress and model Ruby, who stars in the Orange is the new Black series, told Elle magazine, “Gender fluidity isn't really about feeling at one end of the spectrum. I don't identify with any gender. I'm not a man, I don't feel like a woman, even though I was born that way. So I'm somewhere in the middle, which - is my perfect imagination - is like bringing together the best of both sexes ”. 

In her short film Break Free, Ruby Rose also portrays her personality in all its complexity, going from a femme fatale look to that of a "tomboy".