nonbinary gender identities draft page from the forthcoming GENDER book version 2.0 - expanded and revised.

These are rough draft pages I’m working on, posting here for community feedback. Please let me know what you think, where I am being problematic and how it could be better! If you prefer to respond anonymously or join the team to be a more active collaborator, you can write me at [email protected]

draft pages from the forthcoming GENDER book version 2.0 - expanded and revised.

These are rough draft pages I’m working on, posting here for community feedback. Please let me know what you think, where I am being problematic and how it could be better! If you prefer to respond anonymously or join the team to be a more active collaborator, you can write me at [email protected]

To include genitals or not to include genitals.... that is the question.

I think I was talked out of it by my team so we could have greater reach in conservative US schools. I think that normalizing differently shaped genitals is a really important message, and I suppose I don’t mind having that on the website instead.

[Hi, Boston! I’m Dr. Williams. You are probably familiar with the stereotypical male and female sexes for humans (these are called dyadic), but scientists have known for a long time that there’s way more options than that. We call these intersex, and it’s more common than you may think! These are normal and natural conditions and part of the beautiful diversity of human bodies. Just like we have lots of variation in hair color, nose shape, or height, we have many shades of gendered biology, too. 

When it comes to our bodies, no two are exactly alike! Genitals are a great example of this. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors. Sometimes there’s a medical need for the body’s plumbing to be modified surgically at birth. However, doctors will often operate on infants with functioning genitals for no good medical reason - just to make their bodies look “normal.” This is terrible because it hurts children, makes lasting changes without consent, and sends a message that their bodies are not okay. 

The truth is that all bodies are beautiful. But, your body doesn’t define you: you can have any gender identity or sexual orientation with any body type. Our bodies change as we grow. Sometimes our relationship with our bodies is part of how we understand our gender. The important thing is try to be a friend to your body and use words that feel good to you to describe it.

FYI box:The United Nations released a statement in 2013 condemning forced genital-normalizing surgery, but unfortunately, it still happens.11 Groups like InterACT are working to help advocate for the human rights of all children.]

This is a very rough draft from the upcoming version of the GENDER book I’m working on, posting here for community feedback. Please let me know what you think, where I am being problematic and how it could be better! If you prefer to respond anonymously or join the team to be a more active collaborator, you can write me at [email protected]

Intersex page from the forthcoming GENDER book version 2.0 - expanded and revised.

[Koomah is in a garden with a snail (Garden snails can mate with any other adult of their species.)]

All bodies are valid and beautiful and unique. A person who is intersex is usually born that way due to natural genetic diversity. An intersex person can have any gender or sexual identity, just like a dyadic person. There are lots of things a doctor might look at to label someone intersex, and many folks are intersex without even knowing it. Let’s learn more.

Genetic Conditions like Klinefelter’s Syndrome and Turner Syndrome

Your genes determine all kinds of things like: your eye color, if you have freckles, and your sex. These genes travel on molecules called chromosomes. You might have the famous XX or XY chromosomes (these are often dyadic sexes). Alternatively you could have XXYY, XXY, XO, or XXX chromosomes, or multiple kinds at once (those are considered intersex). Bodies are complex and beautiful. The only way to tell your chromosomes is with a blood test, so most of the time we won’t know what we have.

Hormonal Conditions like Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

All people have communication chemicals like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone in different levels in their blood, and every body processes them a little differently.10 That means your hormones are personal to you! Because they affect secondary sex characteristics, individuals with hormone levels out of the expected ranges or whose bodies react in unique ways to their hormones can be considered intersex.

(in Koomah’s speech bubble) “Hi, my name is Koomah! I am an artist and an educator. I want to tell you that Intersex people are just normal people! We aren’t deformed and are not defective. These bodies aren’t shameful. These bodies deserve the same respect as anyone else’s. They’re not scary, they’re just different, and that’s okay.”

F.Y.I… (in snail thought bubble) True hermaphrodites are quite rare outside of animals and plants like me. Today we use the more appropriate and honoring term “intersex” for our human friends.

This is a very rough draft I’m working on, posting here for community feedback. Please let me know what you think, where I am being problematic and how it could be better! If you prefer to respond anonymously or join the team to be a more active collaborator, you can write me at [email protected]

Gender worksheet pages from the forthcoming GENDER book version 2.0 - expanded and revised. This is a very rough draft I’m working on, posting here for community feedback. Please let me know what you think, where I am being problematic and how it could be better! If you prefer to respond anonymously or join the team to be a more active collaborator, you can write me at [email protected]

TRUE STORY

[ image description: screenshot from Facebook.

Bank Customer Service Agent: Ok Ms. Rook, let me just pull that up for you...

Me: Ok, thanks. Hey, can you do me a favor and avoid using gendered language like Miss or Ma'am?

BCSA: Um, ok... What do I call you?

Me: You can just call me Hunter. That's my name.

BCSA: Can I call you by your last name?

Me: Sure, that would be fine.

BCSA: Ok, thank you, Miss- uh, I mean, Rook.

(conversation continues on boring banking stuff for 10 minutes. BCSA messes up a bunch but always corrects it and by the end I feel like a high school football player who goes by last names. It's actually kinda sweet. I stay on the line to give BCSA 5 on the survey. For effort.)

The GENDER Book second edition is in the works... and we need your help to make it happen!

Hi friends! With COVID-19 turning the world upside down, our illustrator has less work on his plate. The upside is that means more time to (finally!) go back and do some revisions on the GENDER book. We're looking to fix all those typos that have been bugging you, add more identities, and generally make the book the best it can be. After all, the world of gender has evolved some since the first edition came out in 2014! So, if you're willing, we'd love your sharp eyes and keen minds to help out with the editing process. Just bust out your copy (or grab a pay what you like ebook) and fill out this form with anything you'd change. This is your chance to be heard! There's even a spot if you want to be drawn into the next version of the GENDER book.

ONWARDS TO THE SURVEY!

Remembering the trans women of color who kickstarted the queer revolution with love, respect, and admiration. Happy pride.

Thanks to Alina and Myriam for their awesome work translating so far. 

Now you can help!

Do you know some German? Hop on to the google doc and join the editing team. Just leave comments with your suggestions by selecting the text in question and then (in the top toolbar menu) going to Insert> Comment.

No German skills? Share and reblog, maybe some of your friends do!