femlich

Ok so the other day I watched the TADC movie with some friends and we were all confused about Jax and his identity issues

At first I firmly believed that Jax was transmasc because of his ¨masculine¨ personality but after a while I realized that he is probably transfem, but first..

What does transfem and transmasc mean?

A person who is transfem is someone who was AMAB but identifies with a femenine identity and / or gender expression. This might include trans women, genderfluid and non binary people who feel more connected with femininity

A person who is transmasc is basically the same but the other way around, someone who was AFAB but feels more comfortable and connected with masculinity. This means trans men, genderfluid and non binary people can also be transmasc.

Does that mean that every trans woman is also trans feminine and every trans man is also trans masculine? Well, not really.

Gender expression does not equal gender, there's some trans women that like "masculine things" more than the feminine ones (same goes for trans men) and that doesn't mean they are less valid than those who don't.

After that being said...

What makes Jax trans?

When Pomni and Jax are arguing in chapter 6, he says " I'm just a misunderstood little chicken fetus in an egg that needs to be cracked open" to mock her for trying to know his true self.

But, the same expression egg is used to describe a person who is trans but hasn't realized it yet, while cracking or hatching means that they finally realized or accepted it.

In the movie, when he is alone with Ribbit, he confesses her that his last memory from the real world is a fight with her mom and that it had started because he told her something really personal, something embarrasing and that she only mocked him for that.

At the end of "The Last Act", Caine says that Mateo (real life Jax) goes frequently to Riley's (real life Zooble) bar, a place that is judgment free and safe for queer people.

Even though the two last things could also be about his sexual orientation (it would make no sense to me but xd), so feel free to think whatever you want!! :D

Why is he transfem and not transmasc?

Well, the clearest hint is the scene where Ribbit gives Jax her red bow to conform him after hearing what happened with his mom.

This moment has abstraction-like pictures in between, so we can't see the full conversation, but is probably that before this he confessed her that personal thing he told his mom.

Ribbit doesn't say it with words, but her actions show that she doesn't judge him, and that his feelings are valid

Bows and ribbons are often associated with femeninity and girls, and Jax seems to like wearing it.

As we know, Jax was born a man so it is impossible for him to be transmasc (transmasc cannot be AMAB), but as a "man" who likes to be more femenine than masculine, it is correct to considerate him as a transfem person.

It is unlikely that he is a cisgender man who likes to crossdress, because most male crossdressers openly admit their gender and don't feel insecure because of people judging their masculinity. Basically, they don't experience gender dysphoria.

If he's a crossdresser, then why does he feel so insecure about being seen as femenine? all his backstory and development would crumble completely, turning him into a plain character that makes no sense.

little detail -> goosework is a transgender woman and has multiple said multiple times that Jax is a representation of herself !!

here are some posts of gooseworx talking about jax

Then if he's transfem... why is he still so masculine?

After Mateo's dad left, he was forced to take the "male role" of the house, and compared to him, he felt like he was "not man enough" (his own words btw). At that time, he most likely had already noticed his interest in femininity, something that caused a biggest contrast between this two sides.

When he finally gathered up the courage to tell his mom about this feeling, she took it as a joke, something ridiculous and ironic, she didn't support him, her reaction only increased his embarrasement and self esteem issues.

She loved him, but did not accept him.

Being femenine is his vulnerable side, and because of what happened to her mother he feels ashamed and guilty, like that feeling is wrong.

He often bullies Gangle for being too girly, weak, and a crybaby, because that's what life has taught him, that as a man you cannot be a crybaby, cannot be weak, cannot be like a girl.

But when he is alone and comfortable, he stops worrying about being seen like that. For example when Ribbit gives him her bow, he still is blushed, meaning that he is embarrased, but doesn't take it off, he lets himself enjoy it a little, until Kaufmo knocks the door. He inmediately takes it off, and starts to panic, trying to find an excuse for him to not enter the room, and after that he starts avoiding Ribbit, afraid that she might tell everyone or even judge him, so he tries to make it pass as a "joke".

Something similar happens with Pomni, when they are alone and COMFORTABLE he makes the comment "my ears and tails are the pinnacle of masculinity" something that backfires him because he doesn't have his tail at the moment, so he isn't completely masculine.

We haven't seen his room that many times, but as far as we can see, it looks quite pink and girlish. Everytime we see it he's the only one inside, and no one else has entered. A safe place he doesn't let anyone get in.

Bedrooms were made based on the mental scan archives of the characters, so this means that femininity makes Jax feel comfortable.

After all this, Jax is...?

It is correct to say that Jax is a transfem person with severe gender dysphoria and self steem issues. He has a lot of mental issues and trauma that has clearly not dealed with and presents deep internalized misogyny and non-healthy gender stereotipes.

This means that there's not an actually answer to what's Jax gender identity, but denying that he has dysphoria and gender-related issues is simply incorrect.

Robert decides not to change her name for several reasons: 1) Too much paperwork, 2) She keeps forgetting she can just Do That, and 3) Most of the people in her life (the z team) refuse to call her Robert anyway, so she has no desire to change it.

Prism personally doesn't get it but she's there to support her second bestie and understands the struggle of updating your name on literally everything you've ever owned so she cant blame Robert for wanting to avoid it.

Robert doesn't come out to anyone else until she schedules an appointment to see an endocrinologist. So the second person to know is Mandy.

"Hey I need this day off, it's to see a specialist." "Oh! Is everything alright?" "Yeah..I just," Robert hesitates for a second before committing to it and saying, "I'm looking into hormone replacement therapy."

Mandy just smiles after a moment to let the words sink in, bright with excitement and proudness. She accepts it easily. "No problem, and congratulations!"

Robert definitely procrastinates on telling anyone else, specifically Chase. She's sure chase loves her unconditionally and they've been family since the dawn of time but hes her only family left. Chase is not stupid, though, he knows when Robert is hiding something important.

After chase says something along the lines of "Okay spill, fucker. I know that big ass head of yours is hiding something." Robert sits him down and tells him how she's felt her entire life, and what she wants to do. Its extremely rare that she hesitates when she speaks, but for once she pauses in between sentences while speaking with chase. Chase's reaction lifts a lot of weight from her shoulders.

"I don't give a fuck who or what you are. You'll always be a pain in my ass. But I love you, kid. Always will no matter what. You're like a daughter to me, and I'll be damned if I dont support you always."

That conversation gave her the confidence to come out to the rest of the team subtly

Except for punch up: he doesn't interpret subtle so she just tells him outright. He takes the news pretty well. Says something like, "If you are happy, then thats what matters. You done a lot for us and Torrence, lass. But what about for you?"

Unfortunately the subtly died shortly after that plan but it's the thought that counts.

Flambae: Robert just lets Prism refer to her with the right pronouns while they're talking about their most recent call in the break room. Flambae doesn't even bat an eye and adjusts accordingly. According to him, he may be an asshole but he's not evil. He unfortunately gets more creative with the names since "bitch" doesn't sit right to him anymore.

Golem: Golem just goes "Oh word? That's pretty sick." when she drops a pretty obvious hint to him. Not surprising since the construct just goes with the flow.

Waterboy: The stutter mid correction while on public comms is both mortifying and funny. Eventually, he just automatically stumbles between calling Robert "boss" or "ma'am" which unfortunately clues the entire team in and call her ma'am.

"If any of you except waterboy call me ma'am again I'm banning you all from holding beef for three weeks." (Flambae then tried to call her bluff. They're all banned from holding beef for a month instead.)

Coupé: She acknowledges the reveal with grace and replies "If anyone tries to refer to you as a man, I will see to it that their punishment is swift and merciless." Kind of unsettling but it weirdly warms Robert's heart.

Sonar: Kind of weird but supportive? He'd probably say something like "Robbie, my gal, this is a perfect chance to invest in crypto to fund any upcoming medical needs." Robert does not let that monologue go on for any longer.

Malevola: She immediately invites her to the "Hot girls only" hangout that half the z-team does weekly. Robert's not sure how to feel about it since she literally looks the same as always. Malevola just replies "Its about the soul, babes. You can look the same as always and still be a hot girl."

Phenomaman: The most awkward conversation to date. Phenomaman has no clue how being trans works but in a "I had no idea humans could do this" kind of way. Robert had to give the poor alien a talk on social etiquette regarding questions that can be asked and whatnot. Regardless, Phenomaman doesn't mind at all. He still treats her the same as before since he perceives all humans the same regardless of gender. He did send her a edible arrangement as congratulations. It was all melons. She gave it to Waterboy.

Honorable mention! Royd: Royd gives Robert a fist bump after she comes out to him while working on the mech late after work. His easygoing vibe translates well into his acceptance. They go back to following blueprints for repairs shortly after and work in comfortable silence.

A few days later, a pair of silver stud earrings are on her desk. Simple and casual, neutral in appearance. Robert still has no clue who left them but keeps them for the day she gets her ears pierced. She doesn't tell anyone that she actually loves them.

Something about glasses soften her face. She technically always needed them but never wore them since they would be a liability in the suit. Since she's still repairing it, though, she wears them again and feels more normal in her skin. It's probably some version of gender euphoria, but she has no clue why glasses do it for her.

"Okay! It's giving office siren i'm loving it!" "Not surprised you'd wear the librarian glasses" "Save some sexy vibes for the rest of us damn"