DECON STRUCTING GENDER
A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE OF GENDER
Dedicated to my younger self, my community and family of trans siblings, and our anscestors who have fought for us to be where we are and remind us every day that there is still much work to do.
HELLO!
Welcome to the Future of Gender My name is Annais Delgado Sanchez, I am nonbinary & queer, I am Puertorican, I am a designer & artist, and most of all a human who’s constantly learning and discovering themself, and hopefully a friend to those on a similar journey as me. Or a resource to those looking to learn more. I was inspired to create this zine because discovering myself and how I identify in this world, especially as a brown individual from a colonized culture has been a difficult journey. Similar to other POC, growing up in a culture and community where gender diversity has been looked down upon left me with many preconceived notions that I had to address, unpack, and unlearn. As I began my journey I constantly heard the phrase “gender is a social construct”. But I didn’t fully understand what that meant or entailed, even if I was battling with my own feelings towards my gender identity. Even when I got to a space of acceptance with my gender expression and learning that I feel most comfortable in my body when identifying as nonbinary. I realized it was only the first
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step of many in unlearning the gender norms and heteronormative behaviors that have been so ingrained into our socialization. So, in my journey, I have explored that and dove into what that really means not only wholistically, but for myself as well. Connecting to my own cultural history precolonization, trans history as a whole, and a lineage of transcestors. While also learning from and having conversations with the community around me, I have been able to expand my way of thinking about gender and realized that I could also l ive much differently. Once I began to understand these feelings in myself and found a community that I could relate to and accepted me, a lot of it became much easier. I have learned what my gender identity means to me, and have also gotten to a place where I understand that this is a life-long journey not only for myself, but for others as well. I have learned that gender is whatever I want it to be, and I can identify as nonbinary, use
gender-neutral pronouns or not, and still dress feminine, masculine, both, or neither and it doesn’t take away from my trans identity. I have learned that gender is so much more than what I have been taught and that trans, nonbinary, and gender non-comforming (GNC) people don’t need to be universal to be valid. I have learned that I long for a world where transphobia, prejudice, erasure, and violence towards the trans community are addressed, unpacked, and no longer an issue. A world where people, girls, boys, and everyone in between can not only exist safely, but also thrive. And I hope that whoever you may be or however you may identify as you read this zine you can learn from it, grow from it, and pass it on. Enjoy!
IN THIS ZINE, YOU WILL... LEARN what the gender binary is & where it comes from.
LEARN that gender identity is a unique journey to each individual.
LEARN to envision a world beyond the gender binary.
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Introduction to Nonbinary Gender The majority of the American public considered gender to be a simple duality, implicitly connected to the physical body and recognizable from birth. Consider the typical demographic collection instrument found on a medical or school form: two ticky boxes indicating M or F.
F
M After becoming acquainted with a very specific transgender narrative via media portrayals, national awareness of gender has thankfully widened to include people assigned as one gender at birth who transition to the opposite gender. Let’s put a line connecting the two ticky boxes to indicate this potential for movement.
F 4
M
But what if there were more options than male and female? What if someone identified somewhere in the middle of that line, or even off the line completely? I like to think of gender as a complex constellation of infinite possibilities.
F
M 5
What is Gender? Gender can be defined as a complex biopsychosocial construct. What this means is that there are biological, psychological, and social components of gender, which are in a relationship and which interact with one another in complex ways. For example, the configuration of our bodies & brains shapes how we’re read and treated in gendered ways by others, and our bodies and brains are shaped by our repetition of the gendered ways we’ve learned - from wider culture - to move, speak, dress, take up space, express emotion, find pleasure in things, relate to others, etc.
Biological Body & Brain
Social
Personal Experience & Reflection
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Gender Is a Performance
Untangling Gender from Sex
Sex and gender are not necessarily connected, although most people do identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. What typically happens is that the midwife or doctor performs a brief visual inspection of the external genitals during the birth examination. The genital appearance dictates the biological sex of the infant, and this, in turn, dictates the gender assignment. There is a lot wrong with this. For one thing, biological sex is a lot more complex than genitals; it involves chromosomes, hormones, reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics in addition to the external genitalia.
Psychological Cultural Messages & Life Circumstances
These supposed masculine and feminine behaviors include such things as conversational style, clothing choice, emotional and mental intelligence, skills, desires, and orientation to the world. It seems silly to consider that the size of a child’s phallus could dictate whether they prefer to play with trucks or dolls, but until recently this was a widely accepted truism. It is sometimes difficult to separate gendered behaviors from the expectations that shape them. For example: If a girl is at the toy store, and all of the available choices in the “girl aisle” are pink dolls, she will probably choose a pink doll. If a boy exhibits nurturing behavior toward a stuffed animal and is sneered at for being a sissy, he will probably curtail that behavior.
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Chromosomes: There is a variety in sex chromosome combinations (e.g. XX, XY, X, XXY, XYY). And there are definitely more than two combinations! There can be different chromosomal make-up in different parts of our bodies. Sex/gender characteristics are influenced by genes.
Sex/Gender Bodies: Bodies have historically been gendered on the appearance of genitalia and on the basis of the length of the clitoris/penis. Secondary sex characteristics (e.g., breasts, height, body hair, depth of voice, etc.) are often used to identify gender but people of any gender might be more or less tall, hairy, or have deeper or higher voices. Many people have physical interventions at some point to change their bodies in ways that may be gendered in the broader culture.
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Hormones: We all have different levels of hormones like estrogen and testosterone. These are influenced by any external hormones we take, by environmental factors, and the roles we take.
r isn’t Binary Brains: The vast majority of us combine aspects of what were previously thought of as ‘male’ and ‘female’ brains, and there are very few consistent sex/gender differences in cognitive abilities. We now know from neuroscience that there are more differences between individual people than between the categories of ‘men’ and ‘women’. Identities, expressions, experiences: At the psychological and social levels, gender is diverse.
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Gender in Your Wider World Our sense of our own gender is embedded in the gender options that are available to us in the wider culture; the communities and institutions we’re part of; our interpersonal relationships now, and in the families we grew up in. Use this diagram to think about how gender is understood at all these levels in your world, and what possibilities that opens up and/or closes down for you.
Wider Culture
Community & Institutions
Interpersonal Relationships
Self
ap e Sh Bo dy La ng ua ge
city Eth ni
Age Rac e
Nationality
Sexuality Class
ili ty
Gen
Rel ig
ion
Ab
der
Our gender experiences and options are shaped by other intersecting aspects of experiences and identities, including the systems of privilege and oppression these are embedded in. For example, white women are read and perceived differently than black women because black womens bodies are read as both gendered and racialized.
Gender is Intersectional 11
Transgender Identities Sometimes, the baby that is assigned a particular gender grows up to identify as a different gender. This realization may occur in early childhood or anytime in adulthood. The individual may or may not transition to live as the gender they identify with. Transitioning can include any combination of social, medical, surgical, and legal processes. It’s important to note that a person can be trans even if they decide not to transition, or if their transition does not look normative. Not every trans person desires to “pass” for cisgender or nontrans. Many trans folks cannot afford expensive medical and surgical procedures or have determined that such procedures would not be suitable for their needs. And not every trans person feels uncomfortable with their body or appearance.
Medical Transition Medical transition involves treatments that feminize or masculinize a person’s sex characteristics. Hormone replacement therapy (a regimen of estrogen and anti-androgens or testosterone) requires a medical professional, which often entails a diagnosis of “gender identity disorder.” For children and adolescents, puberty blockers can delay the onset of puberty until they are at the age of consent for permanent transition measures.
Social Transition Social transition is all of the social actions people take to express their identity via sartorial choices and other interactive signals. This may include coming out, requesting the use of different pronouns and honorifics, a name change, and different gender expression.
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Surgical Transition Surgical transition, also called gender confirmation surgery and sexual reassignment surgery, includes what are colloquially called “top surgery” and “bottom surgery, as well as various facial surgeries. Top surgery can be a mastectomy (breast tissue removal), with or without chest reconstruction or shaping. Or top surgery can be a breast augmentation to enlarge the breasts. Bottom surgery may include a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), vaginectomy (removal of the vagina), metoidioplasty (release of the clitoris from the labia minora, and phalloplasty (construction of a penis). Bottom surgery may also consist of a penectomy (removal of the penis), orchiectomy (removal of the testicles), and vaginoplasty (construction of a vagina and vulva), Facial surgeries reshape the forehead, trachea, jaw, chin, nose, or ears.
Legal Transition Legal transition is the process by which a trans person becomes legally recognized as their gender. This may include name or sex changes on documents such as the birth certificate, Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport Some document changes require a court order; some require evidence of transition; others have no requirements. Rules vary by country, state, and sometimes county.
Important Things to Know: Identities, Pronouns, & Terms 13
Nonbinary Gender “Binary gender” refers to the idea that there are only two genders, male and female. And while many people (both cisgender and trans) do identify as binary male or female, some people identify as a different gender entirely. Because nonbinary people identify as a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth, they are included under the trans umbrella.
Indigenous Gender Systems Nonbinary gender is not new. Nor is it a Western invention. Many cultures traditionally recognize three or more genders. In the late nineteenth century, European and American anthropologists were fascinated by gender variance in First Nations and Native American communities, and produced a great deal of literature on what they called the “berdache.” This term and the literature that accompanied it are ethnocentric and offensive. Not only is the term itself insulting and inaccurate, as it was derived from an Arabic word relating to prostitution, but the colonial lens of these scholars distorted indigenous systems and meanings, using Western gender and sexuality understandings to frame the Other. Because of this fraught colonial history, which has included forcible removal of children to boarding schools, nonconsensual sterilization, punishment for engaging in traditional cultural activities, and genocide, it is inappropriate to use Western labels to define indigenous genders. Two-Spirit or two-spirit is the preferred umbrella term for First Nations and Native Americans, as it emerged from those communities;” however, many tribes, as well as non-Western cultures outside the United States and Canada, have more specific community terms.
Nonbinary gender is not new. Nor is it a Western invention. 14
Transitioning as Nonbinary So if a person does not identify as either a man or a woman, how do they transition? While it is true that there is no publicly recognized alternate gender in the West, nonbinary people can and do transition in a variety of ways. Almost all of the transition options available to binary trans people are possibilities for nonbinary people. Some nonbinary people change their names and request different gender pronouns; gender-neutral pronouns are preferred by some, traditional pronouns by others. Mannerisms and clothing and hairstyles vary according to the expression or presentation the individual identifies with. Medical treatments and surgical options may be pursued. depending on an individual’s personal sense of their sexed body in relation to their internal gender identity.
Dysphoria Being misgendered (perceived as a gender you are not) can be a painful experience. Being deadnamed (called by one’s birth name), referred to with incorrect pronouns, or told you are in the wrong bathroom can trigger dysphoria. Dysphoria is an intense feeling of distress associated with misgendering or with one’s sexed body not feeling aligned with one’s gender. Dysphoria is often the catalyst that motivates transition. That said, not every trans person experiences dysphoria and dysphoria is not a necessary determine whether somebody is authentically trans.
Pronoun Usage Gender pronouns are parts of speech used to refer to a person without using their name. The most well-known gender pronouns are he/him/his and she/her/hers, but there are also several alternate pronouns. The most common gender neutral pronouns are they/them/theirs’ and ze/hir/hirs. It can be very difficult to start using a new pronoun. Most people have spent their entire life using “he” and “she” and these pronouns are automatic. It takes a lot of practice to make the new pronoun habitual. One way to train yourself is to talk about the person to your pet or to yourself (in the car or while washing dishes).
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Your Gender Id Words that Don’t Fit Me At Alll
Words I Could Connect with
Words I Use
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dentity How would you identify your gender? In the center of this diagram write down all the words you use to identify your gender. In the outside write any that don’t fit. Use the middle section for words you could connect with but don’t yet use. Consider:
1. Names that you get called. Are these gendered or not? (e.g. being referred to by your surname, nicknames, roles such as mom/dad, daughter, son, etc.) 2. Words that identify your gender (e.g. man, woman, nonbinary, guy, girl, transfeminine, cis, androgynous, etc.) 3. Titles (e.g. Miss, Mr, Mrs, Mx, Dr, no title, etc.) 4. Pronouns (e.g. they, he, she, zir, no pronoun, etc.) 5. Words you like people to refer to you (e.g. ma’am, sir, miss, love, partner, mate, friend, etc.)
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Your Gender Jo Past
Present
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ourney How has your view and understanding of your gender identity and expression evolved through time? The way we experience, express, and identify our genders can change over time - or not. In each section of this diagram, write down, and take note of key turning points or phases in your gender journey. Consider your journey from past, present, and where you hope to be in the future.
Future
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Envisioning the
I Envision a World Where...
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e Future How do you envision the future of gender for society? When you think of a world beyond the gender binary how do you see this manifesting? In our current lived reality, the gender binary has been enforced on the whole world. Envision that you have the ability to radically reimagine, reshape, transform, or destroy gender as it exists in society currently. Jumping off the phrase in the center of this diagram write down ideas you envision in this transformed world beyond the current gender binary. Be radically imaginative!
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WHATEVER THE FUCK
GENDER IS... YOU WANT IT TO BE 22
A Manifesto on Gender Gathered by Annais Delgado Sanchez
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Source Text: Iantaffi, Alex, and Meg-John Barker. How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018. (pg. 6, pg. 8 - pg. 11, pg. 16 - pg. 19) McNabb, Charlie. Nonbinary Gender Identities: History, Culture, Resources. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. (pg. 4 - pg. 5, pg. 7, pg. 12 - pg. 15)
Further Readings & Resources: PFLAG: National Glossary of Terms | https://pflag.org An expanded glossary of terms relating to LGBTQ+ language and terminology The Trevor Project: A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth | https://www.thetrevorproject.org An introductory educational resource that covers topics and best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary young people. National Center for Trans Equality | https://transequality.org The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. The Marsha P. Johnson Institute | https://marshap.org The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people. MPJI works on organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power.
Scan to access more resources:
The Okra Project | https://www.theokraproject.com The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them.
This zine consists of excerpts and writings from various sources that explore the social construct of gender and the trans experience. This zine is part of an ongoing conversation and by no means a whole or exhaustive work; nor does it aim to be.
“Our radical imagination is a tool for decolonization, for reclaiming our right to shape our lived reality.” adrienne maree brown
gathered & designed by Annais Delgado Sanchez
annaisdelgadosanchez.com