On the gender of Dathomir
Here is my mostly headcanon driven but heavily based on canon analysis of the gender functions and diversity on Dathomir, focusing on Night clan. Enjoy~
Disclaimer 1- based it on my brief (watched a few videos, read some articles) research on recognised gender diversity across the world- just so you know i’m not pulling all of this from my ass
Disclaimer 2- i do not love the nouns female and male and so I used them as little as possible and im open to suggestion how to replace them entirely with other descriptors
*jingle-jingles u with concept art now read even more*
Since the society is matriarchal in nature and because of highly visible sexual dimorphism the categories of gender it concentrates on that visual presentation and performing roles and duties. As a woman, you are most importantly a part of a clan and so a superior body under protection of the Mother, have access to magick and are the one to dictate the norms. And all that claimed by your pale skin adorn with subtle tattoos and an elongated skull that may be covered with hair. Similarly, before you are a man, you are a breeding tool, inferior, physical power - as your gender role and distinguished by your warm color skin marked with tattoos, horns and lack of hair. Thus Nightsisters are very proud and strict in their appearance and unaccepting of any form of deviance from the predescribed norm. They are in control of the gender assignment at birth and do so heavily based on visual clues. For example every warm color skinned newborn is prescribed the role of man and destined to be left at the Nightbrothers colonies. The same would apply for any trace of horns or anything beyond having pale skin and smooth head, the visual of the genitalia is a lesser consideration in the process. Although it changes with age and if there's any distortion in upholding the gender role or appearance it's met with a threat of banishing from the clan or death (the choice falls on the birthing mother of the fallen sister). As for the Nightbrothers they strongly resent Nightsisters as their tormentors and in essence every trait aligning with the witches image. Although in contrast to them, Nightbrothers are far more accepting of diversity in the visual expression, but notably more so if it can be molded to their expectation.
Such is the case with Daughters of Dathomir, a Nightbrother born individuals who claim feminine identity later in life. Often they discover themselves because of the stronger connection to force (than the rest of the colonies), or by recognising their place among the other Daughters already present in the colony. Nightbrothers treat them as a force-send revenge on the Nightsisters, a distinct category of women born out of their society. And because of that context they exist in - being a feminine made version of dathomirian zabraks- they physically don't differ much from the rest of the colony. They don't have the resources to undergo any physical transition but also willingly keep their masculine traits to signify their origin and place in the Nightbrothers society. Nightbrothers hold them as sacred and so they are hidden away from the gaze of Nightsisters, especially carefully in time of their visits to the colonies. Some of the Daughters of Dathomir deviate from the path laid for them by the Nightbrothers society. Those are called “Falsouls” (standing for false-souls), “fake souls” (or other similar in meaning names) as in their striving for womanhood they land on wanting to be one of the Nightsisters. This is of course seen as vile and a betrayal of the community that raised them in pursuit of something that will never acknowledge them. If they stand by their view of themselves they are exiled from the colony in the manner of traitors. Roaming abandoned, they search for other rejects of the broader Dathomirian society in hope of accessing the possibility to physically transition through use of magick.
Those are known as Scars - self named as a portrayal of being a stroke and a blemish on the surface of Nightsisters rule. They are Nightsisters born individuals adapting masculine identity later in life. Such behavior is unthinkable among the Nightsisters and is heavily ostracized to the point many of them are killed if they did not escape in time. In their identity they strive to perform the role and appearance of the Nightbrothers. To their detriment they are excluded from both fractions - Nightsisters as stated above, and for Nightbrothers they are still regarded as a fruit of their tormentors and merely a pathetic being which could never be one of them - real men of Dathomir, their struggle considered a greater punishment for the Nightsisters. Scars gave up trying to join Nightbrothers colonies so they form their own small groups and in them embrace their idea of dathomirian zabraks customs. They restrain from using magic for any other purpose than physical transition.
In case of intersex and genderqueer individuals their livelihood depends on their capability and will to fit under one of the sets of standards. They are not recognised as a group with a label of their own and rather a rare occurrence. If they claim a part in one of the groups they do so under the label of the established genders - Nightsister, Nightbrother, the third recognized gender of Daughter of Dathomir or Scar. But if they deviate a bit too much from the norm for the role they ought to perform they are met with disapproval, accusations and threat of banishment from the group which in many cases is inevitable.
If u have read all this i owe u and thanks :3
