#nonbinary presentation

https://www.tumblr.com/nonbinary-culture/176390933223/fathermartinarchimbaud-fathermartinarchimbaud-hel

https://rowanthestrange.tumblr.com/post/165560957245/non-binary-presentation-terms

Ooh, I really love the nonbinary presentation terms!

Link here and here for easier access.

what are stag/fox/swan?

in 2017, tumblr user marlowelune outlined a three-way system of nonbinary presentation labels, named after animals, in this post [link]. (they also provided a separate axis of ostentation or drama in presentation, but we’re focused on the first three labels for now.) the terms were further expanded on by tumblr user nonbinary-culture, including flags and more formal definitions [link]. the three proposed terms were stag, fox, and swan. what do they mean?

stag is a gender presentation interpreting masculinity through a nonbinary lense, without necessarily conforming to cis concepts of maleness or masculinity. it taps into concepts and expressions of nonbinary strength, courage, and boldness.

fox is a gender presentation interpreting androgyny, fluidity, or mixed presentation through a nonbinary lense, without necessarily conforming to cis concepts of these terms’ definition. it taps into concepts and expressions of nonbinary rebellion, transformation, and independence.

swan is a gender presentation interpreting femininity through a nonbinary lense, without necessarily conforming to cis concepts of femaleness or femininity. it taps into concepts and expressions of nonbinary beauty, softness, and grace.

these terms were always intended to be agnostic of individual sexuality or gender identity, to reject cis ideas of what it means to be masculine or feminine, and to be defined by the people who identified with them. they are not genders (except in the way that ‘butch’, for example, can be used as a gender), and they are available to all nonbinary people.

sadly, these labels enjoyed a brief period of popularity, circa 2017-2018, and then seem to have largely faded into obscurity. this blog argues that they should be readopted and popularized, and is specifically aimed or centered on a stag presentation.

why use these terms?

regardless of your stance on discourse, or your agreement or disagreement with the terms’ creators, stag/fox/swan labels offer nonbinary people a useful tool: concrete ways of identifying our presentation without labeling ourselves as ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’. think of them as similar to a term like ‘butch’, which is usually used to express that the bearer has a ‘masculine’ presentation that is explicitly centered in WLW identity, is not cis male, and does not conform to cis men’s ideas of what it means to be masculine. 

there are certainly nonbinary butches, and this post isn’t to say they should all call themselves stags, it merely intends to point out that specific existing labels like butch don’t meet the needs of all nonbinary people-- not all of us are comfortable identifying in that way. these terms are important and historic, and the goal is to create the use of new terms, not supplant anything.

(these were made with nbs in mind but are open for anyone to use)

Sardonyx/Chaotic - energetic, strong, bold, confident, happy, fun (high energy)

a sardonyx or chaotic presentation would be characterized by very bold or flashy designs, perhaps lots of different patterns and textures, maybe exaggerated makeup. an obvious example would be punk fashion with the spikes and the chains and the mohawks, or goth fashion with the lace and the corsets and the dramatic makeup, but it doesn’t have to be just alternative fashion like that. it can be Lolita fashion or steampunk or Victorian fashion or fancy evening dresses/suits, as long as it is considered a vibrant, “high energy” style by the individual.

Smoky Quartz/Chance - flexible, transformative, balance (moderate energy)

a smoky quartz or chance presentation is kind of the middle ground between sardonyx and sodalite. it’s characterized as a flexible and transformative term that’s somewhat up to interpretation by the user and how they would view it and the other terms. this term would be open to more pattern mixing, layering, accessories, color variety, etc. than sodalite but not necessarily to the degree of sardonyx. maybe this is displayed in a jacket with lots of pins and patches, or a simple outfit with lots of jewelry, or layering a fun coat and flannel over a t-shirt, or a skirt with fishnets and high heels but a plan top. anything that is considered moderate energy by the individual, or fluctuates between/mixes high and low energy styles, could be labeled by this term.

Sodalite/Zen - calm, grounded, sensible, reserved, artistic, comfortable, functional (low energy)

a sodalite or zen presentation would be characterized by more practical or simple fashion. it would be more functional like with jeans, hoodies, and t-shirts. if makeup is worn, it might be more natural. designs might be minimalistic or cheap. comfy fabrics and fits, perhaps more conservative lines, etc. overall, if it’s considered a comfortable, “low energy” style by the individual then it could fit this category.

most importantly, what high/moderate/low energy means is up to individual interpretation. one person’s flashy, dramatic outfit may be another person’s moderate outfit. and that’s okay! these are terms are made for individual use to describe personal style and gender presentation.

also feel free to use different terms on different days. you don’t have to pick just one to describe your overall presentation if you don’t want to or if your presentation changes. go wild!

Remember when this meme was relevant?

My personal style is defined less by masculinity or femininity and more by... ease and convenience. I’m bad at tying ties, I’m worse at putting on make-up*, and I tend to choose the comfiest, lowest-maintenance outfit I can 90% of the time. Which is one reason these nonbinary presentation terms appealed to me.  ‘Sparrow’ is the term for low-effort presentation, hence the title.

*This is pure speculation, since I’ve never actually attempted to apply make-up myself. But that lack of experience makes it very likely I’d be shit.

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