Is it a bird, is it a plane? A simple question that's simply answered. But what about: Are you a boy, or are you a girl? This might seem like another simple inquiry, but it can prove complicated for those identifying as genderqueer. As a general term that refers to gender identities that do not fit into the traditional understanding of gender as either man or woman, genderqueer is a catch-all label that can encompass other constructions, such as third-gendered, androgyne, intergendered, gender-fluid, and agendered. This label has, of late, been gaining momentum as an alternative, and its viability relies on the idea that sex and gender aren't the same.
The question of ‘boy or girl' reinforces the gender binary. The expectation is that a clear-cut answer will be provided. In particular, it doesn't account for intersex and trans identities, since they do not fit into the simple two-gender system. Intersex people cannot biologically be classified as only male or female, and transgender people do not feel that their gender identities match their assigned sex. And of course, the question clearly excludes people identifying as genderqueer. These individuals reject identifying as male or female, even if they feel more of an affinity for one over the other. Their mindset allows for a paradigm beyond the dual-gender system.
For genderqueers, signifiers of gender in relation to masculinity, femininity and appearance may vary and blur the lines of "boy" and "girl". For example, a gender-queer individual might be a female-bodied person who appears "male" and dons stereotypically feminine attire, or a male-bodied person that looks typically masculine and athletic but sports make-up and skirts.
People who label themselves as gender-queer may envision their identity as outside of social conventions. Perhaps they feel androgynous, or like both a man and a woman, or even neither, or something outside of the current gender structure. Maybe their identity is fluid; one moment, one hour, one day or any length of time to the next could entail a shift in identity. In essence, all these labels could be restricting and limiting to gender-queers whose identity cannot be conveyed sufficiently through the traditional vernacular.
Speaking of language, it is important to understand the varying preferences of gender-queers in terms of gender pronouns. Some may be fine with the usual "he" or "she," but others may ask that they be referred to using various gender-neutral pronouns. Besides the usage of "they" and its other forms ("their" and "them") in the singular sense, there is also the choice of using gender-neutral terminology, such "ze," "zir," "sie," "hir" and "per." It is also possible that an individual's name is the preferred form of identification. Lastly, an individual may want some variation of all those choices, or a combination of them. The point is to realize that people of varying gender identities exist within the group identifying as gender-queers, and it is important to respect their wishes and appropriately refer to them.
Another aspect of gender-queerness is that it has nothing to do with sexuality. Gender identity and sexual identity are separate parts of an individual's identity. The fluidity or refusal of the male-female sex categories already complicates assigning sexual identity, such as bisexual or homosexual. It is even more complicated for intersex individuals who may identify as genderqueer. Of course, others may choose to fall back on a biological sex to more easily assign a sexual orientation. And obviously, genderqueers fall along the spectrum of sexuality, from straight to pansexual.
In sum, gender-variant individuals exist and wish to be acknowledged and respected, and we cannot ignore that.
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Elisha Sum is a senior majoring in English and French. He can be reached at Elisha.Sum@tufts.edu.
