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Alok defines moving beyond the gender binary as adopting a fluid perspective on gender. Being able to realize that gender is on a spectrum and that external and internal characteristics aren’t always presented within the realm of “normalcy” (men who present masculine and women who present feminine) is what moving beyond that binary means. One significant thing I gathered from the text was Alok’s explanation of what really matters when it comes to gender: comfort. No matter how “weird” and “different” your identity may be to other people, comfort in your own skin matters the most. This is why I find it ridiculous when prejudice occurs against trans people for instance. What matters is that they are comfortable and this type of treatment is degrading and implies that people who stay ignorant and transphobic do not see them as humans.  

I identify as cisgender and use she/her pronouns. In this way, I do not go against the gender binary as I am comfortable with my assigned gender at birth. On a smaller scale, I have certain characteristics and aspects of my personality/way I present myself that some people consider masculine. In another way, I also identify as bisexual, which goes against the gender binary. This is because someone who fits the norm presents as female, and uses she/her, would also fit the norm by being straight which I am not. I would say that I also FEEL masculine on certain days and feminine on others. To feel more comfortable with these experiences, I find that dressing accordingly helps me feel closer to that identity/side of myself.