Non-binary Presentation Terms
Although words like butch, femme, masc, and fem have been applied to nonbinary folk since their inception, they donât always meet the needs of non-binary people in comfortably describing the way we look.Â
So here are a new additional set of options! Weâve considered two different âaxesâ here â one that relates most closely to the mascâfem scale, and one that considers âeffortâ, or a level of⌠drama or ostentation in a look. They can be combined as one pleases or used individually!Â
Additionally, please apply them at will to yourself based on your own ideas about what it means to dress femininely or dramatically or androgynously etc. These words are not to be held hostage to cissexism or gender roles. These words also describe presentations that are inherently not binary â the only reason weâre using words like âmasculineâ and âfeminineâ to describe them at all is for ease of communication. They can and should describe particular looks, including those that people are inclined to gender, without actually gendering them.Â
Note: These are not coined with the intention of being gender identities. They have nothing inherently to do with gender identity. You can be a demigirl stag, etc. (That said, if someone wants to use them as a gender because you feel itâs tied closely to your presentation, weâre certainly not stopping you.)Â
Stag: A âmascâ, âbutchâ or âtomcatâ equivalent, describing a presentation one considers to be associated with ideas about masculinity, or a presentation others might consider masculine.Â
Fox: Describing an androgynous, fluid, or combined presentation; can be applied to any presentation a person feels doesnât resemble the other sides of the spectrum. Â
Swan: AÂ âfemme/femâ or âdoeâ equivalent, describing a presentation one considers to be associated with ideas about femininity, or a presentation others might consider feminine.Â
Sparrow: A casual, minimalist, muted or low-effort presentation. For example, for those folks who just roll through their closet and go.Â
Crow: For presentations that are in-between, combined, or fluid along a scale of effort/ostentation.Â
Peacock: For presentations that are high effort. Glam, dramatic, flashy, flamboyant, attention-drawing, etc. Dressed to the nines, so to speak!Â
(chart meant purely to be silly and fun, not to suggest actual criteria or associations. Disregard entirely if you resonate with the terms but not these goofy tidbits.)