Even in the notoriously heteronormative media, Jaden Smith is joined by
people like Seann Miley Moore, Conchita and Ruby Rose in challenging
traditional gender norms. This should be celebrated. […]
By defying conventional gender stereotypes, Smith has become a
representation for those who identify as a non-binary gender (one that
is not exclusively male or female). But some have disagreed with his
appointment as womenswear rep – notably Katie Glover, who wrote in the
Independent yesterday that Smith was encroaching on transgender turf […]
To imply that genderfluidity, or gender-neutral clothing is ‘wearing
the trans uniform’ is totally wrong-headed. I would assume a trans woman
wears clothing intended for females because they identify as female.
Surely a non-binary person wearing clothing that may be associated with
either gender is no different; their changing wardrobe is merely a
continuation of their fluidity.
Jaden Smith isn’t wearing a dress because he wants to identify as
female; he’s wearing a dress because he rejects strict gender norms. And
if someone identifies as something other than ‘male’ or ‘female’, and
they feel comfortable and happy in doing so, then I struggle to see why
we should support that sort of expression being stifled.
Jaden Smith Stars In Louis Vuitton’s New Womenswear Campaign
Along with Miley Cyrus and Ruby Rose, Jaden is giving much needed visibility to everything gender fluid.
Now he is a women’s wear model for Louis Vuitton. The world of fashion has in some periods favored an endrogynous look. Maybe that makes this a well suited place to acheive gender fluid visibility?
Cudos to Vuitton for an inclusive campaign and a big hug to Jaden for being honest and real.
Some transgender people find the traditional gender roles too limiting. Tyler Ford is one such person. They were assigned woman at birth, but is now expressing a unique blend of the feminine and the masculine.
They did try taking androgens (hormones) four years ago, but decided it didn’t feel right and stopped. To The Guardian Tyler says:
“After being on hormones for a year and a half, a voice in the back of my head told me to stop taking testosterone. I didn’t feel like a man; I didn’t even know what feeling like a man meant. My breaking point came when I sat in my closet for two hours, talking to the camera in my laptop about feeling lost. This video was solely for catharsis, and for my own eyes. During that two-hour session, I came out to myself as a non-binary person: someone who does not identify with either binary gender (man or woman).”
To live within the gender binary is a legitimate choice for a trans person. So is living outside it.
Limina is an indie dramatic short film about a curious gender-fluid (and maybe even transgender) child who embarks on a path of kindness.
The movie makers write:
A magical gender-fluid child named Alessandra who, led by innocence and intuition, is so curious about the lives of the inhabitants of a small picturesque town that they decide to play an active part in an unknown woman’s mourning process.
The movie is in planning and the makers are looking for donations to make it real.
Ruby Rose, is an Australian model, DJ, actress, television presenter, MTV VJ and recording artist.
Ruby has said this about herself: “I am very gender fluid and feel more like I wake up every day sort of gender neutral.” This announcement came approximately a week after she released a short film called “Break Free,” in which she visually transitions from a very feminine woman to a heavily tattooed man.
[A]s trans people gain visibility and understanding as people who identify as male or female despite being assigned a different gender at birth, a greater gap in understanding exists for gender non-conforming (GNC) and non-binary trans individuals.
“Not content with identifying or expressing themselves as only either men or women, we feel and show genders that mix, vary, and/or go beyond these categories and may identify as genderqueer, agender, two spirit, neutrois, gender fluid, and third gender, among many others,” explains Julián Padilla, LGBTQ Justice Organizer for GLOBE, the Brooklyn LGBTQ Committee of Make the Road NY (MTRNY).
In association with […](MTRNY), and the Queens Museum, Brooklyn-based portrait photographer Benedict Evans presents a series of photographs which celebrate a community of transgender, genderqueer, agender, androgyne, and gender fluid men and women living in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City.
Gender therapist Dara Hoffman-Fox gives a really good reply to the following question over at her site:
[“E-” asks:] I’ve been questioning my gender for around a year now. I’m not sure if I am transgender or not, and I needed some advice on whether or not my experiences/feelings were that of gender dysphoria.
That’s right, there are countless ways that someone can answer “yes” to the question, “Do I Have Gender Dysphoria?”
That’s because every individual is different. If it were a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, you might place your body dysphoria close to a 10, while your social dysphoria may be a 7, and your “mind processing” score might be more like a 5 (just throwing out numbers here).
Bottom line is, there is no “right or wrong” way to be transgender, or to have Gender Dysphoria. It covers a very wide range!
That includes your question about whether or not you have Gender Dysphoria because you haven’t fit into the “typical male stereotype.” There are many, many experiences of what it means to identity as male in this world. There are also many different trans-narratives out there, and yours is just as valid as anyone else’s.[…]
Trust your instincts, E—, and seek out support from those who understand and encourage you.
![sallymolay:
“ Portraits Show Gender Diversity
“ [A]s trans people gain visibility and understanding as people who identify as male or female despite being assigned a different gender at birth, a greater gap in understanding exists for gender...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/7a82a37269353d9f2c37d0ac60e733fb/tumblr_nhyk64zgrj1tddzm2o1_500.jpg)
![sallymolay:
“ Portraits Show Gender Diversity
“ [A]s trans people gain visibility and understanding as people who identify as male or female despite being assigned a different gender at birth, a greater gap in understanding exists for gender...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/4405028d8e8ac087c2bbe0cb801a8de4/tumblr_nhyk64zgrj1tddzm2o2_500.jpg)
