Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon, was very interesting and detailed. I’ll be honest growing up I only thought there was only male and female. I honestly didn’t know that non-binary and non-conforming people were to different type of people. Non-conforming can be used to describe people by actions, dress, ideas and yet you could be non-binary.
What I learned from Alok Vaid-Menon is that there are more than one gender. With that being said Vaid-Menon also mentions banning them to healthcare, some outings, and I didn’t even know they banned them from donating blood. I feel that at a young and mature age children should know the difference and understand all gender roles. People will always have an opinion for everything and will pick you apart no matter what, that is just life.
How does my gender identification differs from the gender norm ? I like to dress comfortable in baggy/men’s clothing. Which means I’m not a very big fan of dressing girly, or wearing makeup often. Even for events I’d prefer to wear dress pants rather than a skirt and some say I don’t dress like a female should or I’m too masculine. I like the way I am, I’m not too feminine nor too tomboy or masculine.
Another way I go against the norm is I’m very straight-forward about what I want or don’t want and what I like and don’t many have told me I come off as an asshole or too demanding but I’m not. Yet, if this was vice versa and a man has the same characteristics he’s confident, bold, and some may even say attractive.
