The nonbinary brain

[supergee]

In answer to a popular Internet question, my pronouns of choice are he, him, his. I fit fairly comfortably in the gender binary, and I’m mostly a big cissy who is happy with the gender I’ve been assigned, glad that it goes with my genitals, and proud to display my secondary sexual characteristics, as I’ve been doing for 50 years.

Nevertheless, I don’t believe it. We’re all, if not genderqueer, at least somewhat noncompliant. (The one that got me in trouble in childhood was liking pretty colors.) The gender binary seems to be yetanother area where two-valued logic is inadequate to deal with the complexity of the situation, and science is agreeing more and more.

Thanx to Metafilter

ETA: This too

Comments

[cmcmck]

It's a complex thing for sure.

I hit the binary pretty much in the mid range of female, but it wasn't always so and it got me into SO much trouble! :o)

[wild_irises]

I appreciate "big cissy" and may start to use it. Though it is clearly better in writing than in speech.

[supergee]

Thank you

[minoanmiss]

I always feel appropriative when I talk about my pronouns -- there are people who went through hell over this subject, who am I to pipe up? But I understand that doing so helps normalize the concept for everyone.

And the science is fascinating as well as validating.