Read on Twitter
When we say "there are more than two genders", we don't mean "there are three genders."
Nonbinary isn't a third gender tacked on to the other two.
You wouldn't say there are three kinds of fruits: apples, oranges, and everything that isn't an apple or an orange.
Nonbinary isn't a third gender tacked on to the other two.
You wouldn't say there are three kinds of fruits: apples, oranges, and everything that isn't an apple or an orange.
I see so many things made by cis people everyday that excitedly remember that nonbinary people exist, but don't understand that we're not all the same gender.
Some people use "nonbinary" to describe ourselves because that's the limit of cis understanding. I'm not a man, I'm not a woman, I'm this third thing.
But, pssst, hey bud: there are more than three genders.
But, pssst, hey bud: there are more than three genders.
What would you think, the cis, if I said you can't actually neatly sort people into a countable set of gender boxes?
You can only do that if you make a shitty box labeled "and the rest."
You can only do that if you make a shitty box labeled "and the rest."
Some examples of "nonbinary" as the 3rd and final gender:
- Pronoun options only she/her, he/him, they/them
- Gender inclusion groups for "female and nonbinary people"
- All nonbinary people gotta be androgynous
- A gender neutral term for everything, but only one option
- Pronoun options only she/her, he/him, they/them
- Gender inclusion groups for "female and nonbinary people"
- All nonbinary people gotta be androgynous
- A gender neutral term for everything, but only one option
And I hear the cis saying:
"Okay but, how do I do it right then? I don't understand anything other than a countable number of boxes?"
Buds, you know how many different names people can have? Like all the possible names? There are at least as many genders as that.
"Okay but, how do I do it right then? I don't understand anything other than a countable number of boxes?"
Buds, you know how many different names people can have? Like all the possible names? There are at least as many genders as that.
"But Fen! How the hell am I supposed to build a mental model and shorthand for describing other people?"
idk buds, sounds like you need to become more gender literate? Trans people are infinitely better at describing genders than you are.
idk buds, sounds like you need to become more gender literate? Trans people are infinitely better at describing genders than you are.
Like, cis folks listen, did you know that when you're not around, we point to random objects and say "that's my gender." And then we all fuckin nod and discuss the ways we do or don't relate to some floral doc martens or a lamp or some shit.
There's this common meme about the trans experience you might have seen.
Left: "talking about gender with trans people", some painting of a bunch of Greek philosphers or whatever.
Right: "talking about gender with cis people", a photo of an adult showing a toddler an object
Left: "talking about gender with trans people", some painting of a bunch of Greek philosphers or whatever.
Right: "talking about gender with cis people", a photo of an adult showing a toddler an object
Basically, talking about gender with you folks is like talking to a baby about complex philosophy.
You're so far behind, you don't understand most of the words or the basic concepts and words that explain those words! Like, holy shit wow oof.
You're so far behind, you don't understand most of the words or the basic concepts and words that explain those words! Like, holy shit wow oof.
Wanna work on that gender literacy? Here are some recs!
A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities by @MadyGComics and @juleszuckerberg is the place to start. Only ten bucks and it's a fun comic??? Woah what???
https://onipress.com/products/a-quick-easy-guide-to-queer-trans-identities
A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities by @MadyGComics and @juleszuckerberg is the place to start. Only ten bucks and it's a fun comic??? Woah what???
https://onipress.com/products/a-quick-easy-guide-to-queer-trans-identities
Oh and if you buy any books I recommend here, please get them through your local bookstore, @indiebound, or heck ask your library to get it!
Actually fuck it, fellow trans people, share your recommendations as a reply. How can cis people better understand gender?
Actually fuck it, fellow trans people, share your recommendations as a reply. How can cis people better understand gender?
Oh and uh, since this is blowing up, please if you're cis and you liked this thread, come back in two hours when all the transphobes show up looking to troll and fight, please report em and ignore em.
