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Tumblr is a social media platform that gained popularity in the 2010s. Users maintain blogs (potentially multiple per account) that allow them to publish original posts as well as to "reblog" others' posts. Reblogs function similarly to Twitter's "retweet" function but allow optional additions to the post body (which are displayed under the original posts) or to tags (displayed only on the reblogger's blog). This allows multiple discussions to branch off from an original post. | Tumblr is a social media platform that gained popularity in the 2010s. Users maintain blogs (potentially multiple per account) that allow them to publish original posts as well as to "reblog" others' posts. Reblogs function similarly to Twitter's "retweet" function but allow optional additions to the post body (which are displayed under the original posts) or to tags (displayed only on the reblogger's blog). This allows multiple discussions to branch off from an original post. | ||
Culturally, Tumblr is extremely popular with LGBTQ people and hosts a wide range of content related to non-binary issues. Many pieces of non-binary language and iconography originated on Tumblr, and there are a large number of single-issue blogs that center on non-binary issues. It is also common for Tumblr users to list their pronouns and gender identities on their personal blogs. | Culturally, Tumblr is extremely popular with LGBTQ people and hosts a wide range of content related to non-binary issues. Many pieces of non-binary language and iconography originated on Tumblr, and there are a large number of single-issue blogs that center on non-binary issues. It is also common for Tumblr users to list their pronouns and gender identities on their personal blogs.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Tumblr's tag system has particular significance for nonbinary users-- it not only allows them to affirm their identities through self-labeling (such as by tagging a selfie as #agender), but to connect with users who share their identities, including uncommon identities (since users create their own tags).<ref name=":0" /> | |||
Many LGBTQ young people use Tumblr as a source of information about gender and sexuality.<ref name=":1">Robards, Brady, et al. "Tumblr as a Space of Learning, Connecting, and Identity Formation for LGBTIQ+ Young People". ''a tumblr bookː platform and cultures'', edited by Allison McCracken et al., Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 2020. http://muse.jhu.edu/pub/166/edited_volume/chapter/3021334</ref> Researcher [[Genny Beemyn]] found that more than two thirds of the nonbinary college students they interviewed had used the Internet to learn about gender identity. Among those who mentioned a specific online source, 79 percent named Tumblr.<ref>Beemyn, Genny. "Get Over the Binaryː The Experience of Nonbinary Trans College Students". In ''Trans People in Higher Education'', edited by Genny Beemyn. Albany, New York, State University of New York Press. 2019.</ref> | |||
Researcher Abigail Oakley suggests that Tumblr gained popularity among non-binary users because it affords them anonymity and the ability to portray themselves in ways that diverge from their everyday personas.<ref name=":0">Oakley, Abigail, and Dame-Griff, Avery. "A Conversation about Gender/Sexual Variant and Transgender Labeling and Networking on Tumblr". Featured in ''a tumblr bookː platform and cultures.'' Edited by Allison McCracken et al. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press. October 2020.</ref> For example, a non-binary person may choose to remain closeted in their offline life and go by a different name and pronouns on Tumblr. | |||
== Gender terms originating on Tumblr == | == Gender terms originating on Tumblr == | ||
Tumblr has a strong culture of coining and promoting new gender terminology, including terms like "[[enby]]" (suggested by revolutionator in 2013) and "[[xenogender]]" (coined in 2014 by Baaphomett).<ref>Baaphomett. "Masterpost of genders coined by Baaphomett." ''Mogai-Archive.'' Original post where these were coined, which is lost: <nowiki>http://mogai-archive.tumblr.com/post/91736136744/masterpost-of-genders-coined-by-baaphomett</nowiki> Archive of that post: <nowiki>https://purrloinsucks.tumblr.com/post/95720973644/masterpost-of-genders-coined-by-baaphomett</nowiki> Archive of that archive: <nowiki>https://archive.is/yULU0#selection-169.2-169.93</nowiki></ref> | Tumblr has a strong culture of coining and promoting new gender terminology, including terms like "[[enby]]" (suggested by revolutionator in 2013) and "[[xenogender]]" (coined in 2014 by Baaphomett).<ref>Baaphomett. "Masterpost of genders coined by Baaphomett." ''Mogai-Archive.'' Original post where these were coined, which is lost: <nowiki>http://mogai-archive.tumblr.com/post/91736136744/masterpost-of-genders-coined-by-baaphomett</nowiki> Archive of that post: <nowiki>https://purrloinsucks.tumblr.com/post/95720973644/masterpost-of-genders-coined-by-baaphomett</nowiki> Archive of that archive: <nowiki>https://archive.is/yULU0#selection-169.2-169.93</nowiki></ref> According to Oakley, non-binary communities on Tumblr develop new terminology at an "advanced rate", and some terms which originate on Tumblr are not adopted outside the platform.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== Pronouns === | === Pronouns === | ||
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Education-related blogs include [https://web.archive.org/web/20241119032548/https://genderqueerid.com/ Genderqueer and Nonbinary Identities] (active 2011-2019), [https://neutrois.tumblr.com neutrois.tumblr.com] (active 2011-2021), and [https://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/ Ask a Nonbinary] (active 2011-present). [https://gqsurvivalguide.tumblr.com/ Genderqueer Survival Guide for Daily Life] (active 2013-2016) paired advice-giving and education with sharing responses to a survey about their experiences as non-binary people. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150215134537/http://genderfluidity.tumblr.com:80/ We are Genderfluidǃ] and [http://confession-of-a-genderfluid.tumblr.com/page/7 Confessions of a Genderfluid] also answered many audience questions, but with a genderfluid focus. | Education-related blogs include [https://web.archive.org/web/20241119032548/https://genderqueerid.com/ Genderqueer and Nonbinary Identities] (active 2011-2019), [https://neutrois.tumblr.com neutrois.tumblr.com] (active 2011-2021), and [https://askanonbinary.tumblr.com/ Ask a Nonbinary] (active 2011-present). [https://gqsurvivalguide.tumblr.com/ Genderqueer Survival Guide for Daily Life] (active 2013-2016) paired advice-giving and education with sharing responses to a survey about their experiences as non-binary people. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150215134537/http://genderfluidity.tumblr.com:80/ We are Genderfluidǃ] and [http://confession-of-a-genderfluid.tumblr.com/page/7 Confessions of a Genderfluid] also answered many audience questions, but with a genderfluid focus. | ||
== Role in identity formation == | |||
Tumblr continues to play a role in many people's processes of coming to understand themselves as under the nonbinary umbrella, as well as a role in LGBTQ identity formation more broadly.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
Tumblr user strugglingtobeheard, for example, noted that Tumblr was her first source of information about gender outside the binary and that she resonated with a lot of Black user's accounts of their gender experiences.<ref>Strugglingtobeheard. "Developing a Black Genderfluid Feminist Critique via Tumblr". Featured in ''a tumblr bookː platform and cultures.'' Edited by Allison McCracken et al. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press. October 2020.</ref> She now identifies as genderfluid. | |||
== Works Cited == | == Works Cited == | ||
<references /> | |||