Yesterday I fought I was a demiboy with part girl but today in confused I have no clue what my gender is. I think I might be nonbinary I’m not sure aaaaa I am confused

  • Gaywallet (they/it)M
    2•11 months ago

    I think they were just stating that identity and expression are two separate axes and that someone can present to the world as a woman but internally feel that they are a man. Similarly there are people who appear butch and people who feel butch and those two don’t always overlap. In fact, all of the labels you described here (butch, femme, bear) are all distinct gender expressions, although some of these labels largely overlap with sexuality labels as well, none of them invalidate or have to overlap with gender identity. I know a girl (identity) who is almost always read as bear (expression), for example.

    there are gay men that see their manhood as influenced by their gayness, thus different from binary straight manhood.

    This can internally shape their perception of their gender as well as externally shape their presentation. I think it’s good to point these out and to celebrate the massive diversity of expression!

    • Retronautickz
      3•11 months ago

      Yeah, I wasn’t saying that those things cannot be separated, just that they aren’t necessarily.

      The label a person uses to describe their gender can be influenced by their presentation, orientation, or the gender roles they want to perform. Someone who says they’re certain gender because they (want to) perform the gender roles associated to that gender isn’t necessarily confusing concepts.

      The human gender and attraction experience is so complex that it cannot be put into strict boxes that never mix.

      In fact, all of the labels you described here (butch, femme, bear) are all distinct expressions of gender identity, although some of these labels largely overlap with sexuality labels as well, none of them invalidate or have to overlap with gender identity.

      My point was that all these labels, apart from being presentations and queer dynamics/roles, are also genders for many people.

      Some people are Butch [gender], where butch refers to their expression; other people are butch, and only butch, where butch itself is their gender.