Otherkin: Difference between revisions
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'''Otherkin''' are real individuals who think of themselves as other than human. For example, an individual who says, "I am an elf." Usually, they mean that they are an elf in spirit, or identify as an elf in some other way. Each individual comes up with their own reasoning for how and why they are otherkin, and what kind of being they are.<ref>Orion Scribner. "A simple introduction to otherkin." [https://web.archive.org/web/20190727165759/http://frameacloud.com:80/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/introduction-otherkin/ http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/introduction-otherkin/] (through the Wayback Machine)</ref> | '''Otherkin''' are real individuals who think of themselves as other than human. For example, an individual who says, "I am an elf." Usually, they mean that they are an elf in spirit, or identify as an elf in some other way. Each individual comes up with their own reasoning for how and why they are otherkin, and what kind of being they are.<ref>Orion Scribner. "A simple introduction to otherkin." [https://web.archive.org/web/20190727165759/http://frameacloud.com:80/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/introduction-otherkin/ http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/introduction-otherkin/] (through the Wayback Machine)</ref> | ||
Otherkin is an identity, but not a [[gender identity]]. That said, some otherkin do think of their gender identity as part of, influenced, or best described with their otherkin identity. For example, a [[nonbinary gender]] person who has decided that the best way to describe their gender identity is to say, "My gender is elf." (There are also people outside of the otherkin community who use similarly non-gender-related concepts and archetypes to describe their nonbinary genders; see [[xenogender]].) Much of the otherkin community is made up of folks who are [[transgender]], [[genderqueer]], or nonbinary. This has always been so, ever since the 1960s.<ref>Orion Scribner. "Otherkin Timeline," abridged edition. [http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/otherkin-timeline-abridged/ http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/otherkin-timeline-abridged/]</ref> For this reason, the otherkin community has a tendency to be accepting of anyone who is transgender, genderqueer, or nonbinary. See the article [[nonbinary gender outside of the transgender community]] for other communities that are similarly welcoming. | Otherkin is an identity, but not a [[gender identity]]. That said, some otherkin do think of their gender identity as part of, influenced, or best described with their otherkin identity. For example, a [[nonbinary gender]] person who has decided that the best way to describe their gender identity is to say, "My gender is elf." (There are also people outside of the otherkin community who use similarly non-gender-related concepts and archetypes to describe their nonbinary genders; see [[xenogender]].) Much of the otherkin community is made up of folks who are [[transgender]], [[genderqueer]], or nonbinary. This has always been so, ever since the 1960s.<ref name="timeline-abridged">Orion Scribner. "Otherkin Timeline," abridged edition. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180902205225/http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/otherkin-timeline-abridged/ http://frameacloud.com/otherkin/nonfiction-otherkin/otherkin-timeline-abridged/], through the Wayback Machine.</ref> For this reason, the otherkin community has a tendency to be accepting of anyone who is transgender, genderqueer, or nonbinary. See the article [[nonbinary gender outside of the transgender community]] for other communities that are similarly welcoming. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The otherkin community has origins that go back to the 1960s, in Pagan spirituality groups of those who called themselves elves. The word "otherkin" was created by a group of these folks during 1990, to include people who identify as beings other than elves.<ref | The otherkin community has origins that go back to the 1960s, in Pagan spirituality groups of those who called themselves elves. The word "otherkin" was created by a group of these folks during 1990, to include people who identify as beings other than elves.<ref name="timeline abridged"/> The Internet makes it possible for everyone to reach out to others about personal matters that they have in common, while still keeping a kind of anonymity. As a result, the otherkin community is one of many that has recently become more visible to the public eye. | ||
In 2013 or 2014, a community of nonbinary gender people on the social blogging site Tumblr.com came up with a kind of [[Pronouns|gender-neutral pronouns]] called "[[Pronouns#Nounself pronouns|nounself pronouns]]." By adapting any noun of one's choosing into a pronoun, one can create a wide variety of very personal and descriptive pronouns. The sets can be themed around concepts that have nothing to do with gender, such as nature, technology, or abstract concepts. For example, the fairy themed set "fae, fae, faer, faers, faeself." Some call nounself pronouns by the name "otherkin pronouns." However, few otherkin use nounself pronouns, and many folks using them aren't otherkin.<ref>otherkinlogic, vulpinekin, and roborenard. "Nounself pronouns and how to use them." [http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520 http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520] </ref> | In 2013 or 2014, a community of nonbinary gender people on the social blogging site Tumblr.com came up with a kind of [[Pronouns|gender-neutral pronouns]] called "[[Pronouns#Nounself pronouns|nounself pronouns]]." By adapting any noun of one's choosing into a pronoun, one can create a wide variety of very personal and descriptive pronouns. The sets can be themed around concepts that have nothing to do with gender, such as nature, technology, or abstract concepts. For example, the fairy themed set "fae, fae, faer, faers, faeself." Some call nounself pronouns by the name "otherkin pronouns." However, few otherkin use nounself pronouns, and many folks using them aren't otherkin.<ref>otherkinlogic, vulpinekin, and roborenard. "Nounself pronouns and how to use them." [http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520 http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520] </ref> | ||