Nonbinary Wiki - User contributions [en]

Tumtum

2021-09-03T22:23:25Z

2A02:A312:C742:AF80:64E0:3ECC:A3F0:D3AB:

{{Content warning|genitals and surgery on intersex people}}
[[File:Tumtum_Pride-Flag.png|thumb|A pride [[flags|flag]] for people today who identify as tumtum, designed in 2016 by "Tikva" and "tumtum_and_androgynos," who described it this way: "the white and blue bars on both to represent a connection to Judaism. In particular, blue is considered a divine color, associated with the sky and G-d. Meanwhile white has a general symbolism of purity, as it does in many other cultures. The grey for tumtum is because I’ve found grey has an association with agender, which as I mentioned is probably the closest English equivalent to tumtum. Not to mention, grey can be seen as some obscure/not specific/hiding, similar to the idea of tumtum gender."<ref>https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Tumtum-652431250</ref><ref>https://ask-pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/154753324059/image-two-flags-both-are-spilt-into-three</ref>]]
[[File:Frans Francken II (1581-1642) (studio of) - Abraham and Sarah Visited by Three Angels - 1401272 - National Trust.jpg|thumb|''Abraham and Sarah visited by Three Angels'', painted by an unknown artist between 1581 and 1642 CE. According to the Talmud, both Abraham and Sarah were born tumtum.<ref name="talmudology" />]]

'''Tumtum''' (Hebrew: טומטום, "hidden", plural ''tumtumim'') is a term that appears in Jewish Rabbinic literature. It usually refers to a person whose [[sex]] is unknown because their genitalia are covered or "hidden" or otherwise unrecognizable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/gender-identity-in-halakhic-discourse |title=Gender Identity In Halakhic Discourse |first=Charlotte Elisheva |last=Fonrobert |website=Jewish Women's Archive |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> Although they are often grouped together, the tumtum has some halachic ramifications distinct from those of the ''[[androgynos]]'' (אנדרוגינוס), who has both male and female genitalia.<ref name="Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagigah, 4a">Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagigah, 4a.</ref> Although ''tumtum'' does not appear in the Scripture, it does in other literature.<ref name="encyclopedia">Avraham Steinberg. Fred Rosner, translator. "Ambiguous genitalia (tumtum)." ''Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethics.'' Jerusalem, Israel: Feldheim Publishers, 2003. Page 50-53. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Jewish_Medical_Ethics/aaklGZAID08C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22tumtum%22%20jewish&pg=PA51&printsec=frontcover&bsq=%22tumtum%22%20jewish</ref> Rabbi Elliot Kukla writes, "The ''tumtum'' appears 17 times in the Mishna; 23 times in the Tosefta; 119 times in the Babylonian Talmud; 22 times in the Jerusalem Talmud and hundreds of times in midrash, commentaries, and halacha."<ref name="kukla met" />

In the Talmud, Yevamot 64a, Rabbi Ammi says that the Biblical figures Abraham and Sarah were said to have been born ''tumtum'' and infertile, and then miraculously turned into a fertile husband and wife in their old age. Rabbi Ammi points to Isaiah 51:1-2, saying that the references to "the rock from where you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from where you were dug" symbolize their genitals being uncovered and remade.<ref name="talmudology" />

== Etymology ==

The eleventh century dictionary, the ''Aruch'', says the word ''tumtum'' came from ''atum'' (אטום) "sealed."<ref name="talmudology">"Arachin 4b ~ The Tumtum, the Androgyne, and the Fluidity of Gender." ''Talmudology.'' June 20, 2019. https://www.talmudology.com/jeremybrownmdgmailcom/2019/6/17/arachin-4b-the-tumtum-the-androgyne-and-the-invention-of-gender?rq=tumtum</ref>

== Physical characteristics ==

The classical description of the physical characteristic of ''tumtum'' says they have a flap of skin or a membrane hiding ordinary female or male genitals. One form of a ''tumtum'' has exposed testicles and an unexposed penis.<ref name="Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagigah, 4a" /><ref name="encyclopedia" /> As long as the skin covers their genitals, they are considered doubtful men and women. As long as the skin is present, they are not able to be circumcised or have sex. Their status as ''tumtum'' can be changed by surgery, though they will still always have different rights and duties than those of other men and women. In the Talmud, one adult ''tumtum'' from the town of Bairi had surgery to cut away this skin, so he was able to be re-categorized as a man. He later fathered seven children. Rabbis differ in whether ''tumtum'' are legally obligated to have that surgery.<ref name="encyclopedia" />

This description does not exactly match any [[intersex]] condition known today.<ref name="talmudology" /> Today, ''tumtum'' can be interpreted as a category for other situations in which a person's sex organs are hidden or undeveloped.<ref>Elliot N. Dorff. "Modern Conservative Judaism: Evolving Thought and Practice." Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 2018. https://books.google.com/books?id=vi9ZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT237&dq=%22tumtum%22+jewish+nonbinary&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU1fXhtp7sAhUQCKwKHa_nDSMQ6AEwAXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=%22tumtum%22%20jewish%20nonbinary&f=false</ref> The classical description of ''tumtum'' having surgery to reveal their true sex can also be interpreted as the transition of a [[transgender]] person.<ref name="kukla met" />

== Gender role ==

Scholars today differ in whether they see ''tumtum'' as a distinct gender. According to Rabbi Elliot Kukla, ''tumtum'' is one of [[gender variance in spirituality#The six genders in classical Judaism|six genders in classical Judaism]], along with [[male]], [[female]], ''[[androgynos]]'', ''[[ay'lonit]]'' (a person who was [[AFAB|assigned female at birth]], but is barren and perhaps masculinized), and ''[[saris]]'' (a [[eunuch]] by birth or through human intervention, or a person who was [[AMAB|assigned male at birth]] but later became feminized).<ref name="kukla forward">Rabbi Elliot Kukla, "For centuries, Jewish tradition has recognized trans people." ''Forward''. October 26, 2018. https://forward.com/opinion/412749/for-centuries-jewish-tradition-has-recognized-trans-people/</ref><ref name="medwed">Robbie Medwed. "More Than Just Male and Female: The Six Genders in Classical Judaism." ''Sojourn'' (blog). June 01, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714011440/http://www.sojourngsd.org/blog/sixgenders</ref> This as an example of how the Western [[gender binary]] is not universal to all cultures, and is not scientifically based.<ref name="kukla forward" /> The gender binary only appears widespread from the perspective of the modern world due to Western colonialism, and the erasure of intersex and gender-variant people. Rabbi Kukla points out that the binary that is familiar to us today came from Victorian-era efforts to find supposedly scientific evidence of intrinsic superiority and inferiority in binaries of sexes, races, and classes, in order to defend systems of oppression against emancipation movements.<ref name="kukla met">Rabbi Elliot Kukla. "A Created Being of Its Own: Toward a Jewish Liberation Theology for Men, Women and Everyone Else." 2006. ''TransTorah.'' http://transtorah.org/PDFs/How_I_Met_the_Tumtum.pdf</ref> Other scholars say that ''tumtum'' is not defined as a separate gender, but rather a state of doubt: a ''tumtum'' must be either male or female, but we do not know which one.<ref name="chabad">{{cite web |url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/912371/jewish/Avodat-Kochavim-Chapter-Twelve.htm#v4 |title=Avodat Kochavim - Chapter Twelve |website=Chabad.org |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>

Although the definition of ''tumtum'' is based on physical characteristics, this is used as a basis for social roles, duties, and prohibitions. This can be considered effectively a [[gender role]]. The strictest gender-dependent obligations or prohibitions apply to ''tumtum'', because if the ''tumtum'' might really be a man or woman, laws for neither men nor women should be broken. Positive commandments from which women are exempted are considered binding on a ''tumtum''.<ref name="chabad" /> The Mishnah (Zavim, 2, 1) says that ''tumtum'' and ''androgynos'' have both men's and women's ''khumrot'', meaning that where the law is stricter towards men than women, they are treated as men, but where the law is stricter towards women, they are treated as women.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://learn.conservativeyeshiva.org/zavim-2-1-htm/ |title=Zavim, Chapter 2, Mishnah 1 |first=Dr. Joshua |last=Kulp |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>

== Identity ==

Some people today choose to call themselves ''tumtum'' as an identity. In the 2019 Worldwide Gender Census, 5 of the respondents called themselves ''tumtum''.<ref name="2019 Gender Census">"Gender Census 2019 - The Worldwide tl;dr." ''Gender Census'' (blog). March 31, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2020. https://gendercensus.com/post/183843963445/gender-census-2019-the-worldwide-tldr Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20200118084451/https://gendercensus.com/post/183843963445/gender-census-2019-the-worldwide-tldr</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Gender variance in spirituality]]

{{Clear}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Rabbi Elliot Kukla. "A Created Being of Its Own: Toward a Jewish Liberation Theology for Men, Women and Everyone Else." 2006. ''TransTorah.'' http://transtorah.org/PDFs/How_I_Met_the_Tumtum.pdf

[[Category:Spirituality]][[Category:Gender-variant identities worldwide]]

Genderfuck

2021-09-03T22:08:47Z

2A02:A312:C742:AF80:64E0:3ECC:A3F0:D3AB:

<languages />
{{infobox identity}}
<translate>
'''Genderfuck''' is a form of gender expression that seeks to subvert the traditional gender binary or gender roles by mixing traditionally [[masculine]] (such as a beard) and traditionally [[feminine]] (such as a dress) components. It literally means to "fuck with" or mess with traditional notions of gender expression or gender roles.<ref name=":0">Dictionary definition of what Genderfuck means: https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/genderfuck/</ref><ref name=":1">LGBTIA+ Wiki about Genderfuck: https://lgbt.wikia.org/wiki/Genderfuck</ref><ref>Wikitionary about Genderfuck: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/genderfuck</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Queer Bisexuality: Perceptions of Bisexual Existence, Distinctions, and Challenges|journal=Journal of Bisexuality|year=2008|last1=Horncastle|first1=Julia|volume=8|doi=10.1080/15299710802142192|quote=Genderfuck is specifically about queering gender rather than sexuality—disrupting conventional dress and behavior gender codes—...}}</ref> For some it is their gender identity, for others it is a label for a certain event's clothing or outfit. <ref>Wiki page on Genderbender / gender bending: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_bender</ref> This may also extend to the belief that the social construct of gender does not exist.<ref name="UD-genderfuck">{{Cite web |title=Urban Dictionary: genderfuck |author=Michelle |work=Urban Dictionary |date=27 April 2003 |access-date=8 July 2020 |url= https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=genderfuck}}</ref>

Genderfuck may alternatively be called '''genderpunk'''.<ref name="UD-genderpunk">{{Cite web |title=Urban Dictionary: genderpunk |author=Kozmo the WordWíld |work=Urban Dictionary |date=29 December 2013 |access-date=8 July 2020 |url= https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=genderpunk}}</ref><ref name="DA-genderpunk">{{Cite web |title=Genderpunk (1) |author=Pride-Flags |work=DeviantArt |date=23 August 2015 |access-date=8 July 2020 |url= https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Genderpunk-1-555820431}}</ref>

There is no established, agreed-upon pride flag for genderfuck, but some have been proposed: see [[:Category:Genderfuck pride flags]].

== Usage == 

=== Genderfuck as a form of identity === 


Some people may feel like genderfuck is the best descriptor for their identity, as they in general feel it applies to them not only in expression but also in their personal feeling of gender. People who identify as Genderfuck may often use parody and/or exaggeration to show how intensely it has broken traditional gender roles. They may want to expose them as fake, artificial or absurd<ref name=":1" /> by using one's own expression to create an image that fits in neither traditional box and thus may spark discussion or disagreement.

In the 2019 [[Gender Census]], 42 people wrote that their identity was "genderfuck", 11 wrote their identity was "genderfucked", 3 people wrote "genderfucker", and 17 wrote that they were "genderpunk".<ref name="docs_Gend">{{Cite web |title=Gender Census 2019 - the public spreadsheet |author=Cassian |work=Google Docs |date=30 March 2019 |access-date=26 July 2020 |url= https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ePCyWMdorSHAaxNcd1Iv64oLvkdgeoZldTdGZZTHlvY/edit#gid=498446722}}</ref>


Genderfuck people may share many things with [[genderqueer]], but they are separate identities.

=== Genderfuck as a form of expression === 


Some binary identifying trans people or nonbinary people may choose to intentionally dress up in a genderfuck outfit for an event or photoshoot. This usually consists of using secondary sexual characteristics of different sexes such as a beard '''and''' breasts, or another expression of traditionally male and female identifiers together. This may be to intentionally confuse the audience and to set traditional gender roles and expression into question, leading to discussion under the umbrella of "what is masculine/feminine?" or similar discourse.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="UD-genderfuck" />


Genderfuck also seeks to break down the rigid binary space and create a new fluid space where people can express and qualities they want of themselves without being ridiculed for "not fitting in your box." More open room to express oneself however you find comfortable. This is also often used by [[Drag]] Queens and Drag Kings when performing as they do not use just feminine or masculine qualities in their outfits and intentionally dress up in a way that cannot be limited to feminine or masculine qualities.<ref>Wiki on Genderbender Drag section: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_bender#Drag</ref>


Although this is often associated with [[queer]] identities, you do not have to be queer to want to or to participate in genderfucking.<ref name=":1" />

== History == 


Genderfuck as a term has been used since the 1960s or 1950s<ref name=":1" />. It stems from a political movement which states "the idea that the personal is political."


It has been used since at least 1974 for gender expression and identity, starting with an article by Christopher Lonc, entitled "Genderfuck and Its Delights"<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


A very detailed article can be found [https://swarthmorephoenix.com/2013/04/25/the-history-of-genderfuck/ here].<blockquote>Lonc wrote: "I want to criticize and poke fun at the roles of women and of men too. I want to try and show how not-normal I can be. I want to ridicule and destroy the whole cosmology of restrictive sex roles and sexual identification."<ref>{{cite book|title=Camp Grounds: Style and Homosexuality|editor=Bergman, David|year=1993|isbn=0870238787}}</ref></blockquote>

== References == 
</translate>
<references />

[[Category:Gender expression]]
[[Category:Nonbinary identities]]