I reached 98% female today based on Amazon Rekognition’s facial analysis tool https://us-west-2.console.aws.amazon.com/rekognition/home?region=us-west-2#/face-detection
Since I left the U.S. I’ve been slowly coming to terms with the realization that the concept of “non-binary gender” isn’t really recognized in any significant form in SE Asia. You are judged as either male or female. Even if it is recgonized in bigger cities, it’s unlikely to be recognized when you are figuring out which bathroom is safer to use at the beach in some small mountain town in Taiwan.
It’s been a rough couple of months, but I realize that after feeling so stressed out when some people in the Phillipines called me “sir”, that I’m way more comfortable with she/her pronouns and identifying as a woman.
I use Amazon Rekognition (and Mechnical Turk) as ways of evaluating how people perceive my gender, today I finally exceeded 98% female, with no FFS!
Due to safety/passport issues, I’m still planning on getting my name and gender marker changed when I get back. I’m still planning on having some FFS done in Mexico, but using these tools has helped me figure out what to focus on.
I just wish I didn’t have to consistently fear for my safety just because I don’t fit into the boxes people were raised with.
