Bigender: Difference between revisions

[[Bigender]], '''bi-gender''', or sometimes '''dual-gender'''/'''dual-gendered''', is a [[gender identity]] under the [[multigender]], [[nonbinary]], and [[transgender]] [[umbrella terms]]. Bigender people have two different specific gender identities, either at the same time, or at different times. The latter is a form of [[genderfluid]] identity, and may involve only two distinct genders, or it may involve "shades of gray between the two."<ref name="Schneider2008">author=Schneider, M., et al. ''APA Task Force on Gender Identity, Gender Variance, and Intersex Conditions'', 2008 [http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.pdf http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.pdf] (PDF){{dead link}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20230326002419/http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.pdf Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The two genders of a bigender person can be the two [[binary genders]], [[female]] and [[male]]. This is what people usually assume bigender means. However, some people who identify as bigender have a different pair of genders. For example, their two genders might be female and [[neutrois]]. Or the two genders might be both nonbinary, such as [[agender]] and [[aporagender]]. Bigender is recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a subset of the transgender group.<ref name="Schneider2006">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705005410/http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.pdf |title=Answers to Your Questions About Transgender Individuals and Gender Identity |url=http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.pdf|date=2006 |archive-date=5 July 2010|publisher=American Psychological Associaton|last1=Schneider |first1=Margaret |last2=Bockting|first2=Walter|last3=Ehrbar |first3=Randall |last4=Lawrence|first4=Anne|last5=Rachlin|first5= Katherine Louise |last6=Zucker|first6=Kenneth}}</ref>

A 1997 paper concerning the "[[gender spectrum|gender continuum]]" in ''International Journal of Transgenderism'' noted that "a person who feels or acts as both a woman and a man may identify as bi-gendered." The paper also described individuals who were "genderblended", being both binary genders but either "more man than woman" or "more woman than man".<ref name="Eyler">{{cite journal|last1=Eyler |first1=A.E.|last2=Wright |first2=K.|year=1997|url=https://cdn.atria.nl/ezines/web/IJT/97-03/numbers/symposion/ijtc0102.htm|title=Gender Identification and Sexual Orientation Among Genetic Females with Gender-Blended Self-Perception in Childhood and Adolescence.|journal=International Journal of Transgenderism|quote=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718084440/https://cdn.atria.nl/ezines/web/IJT/97-03/numbers/symposion/ijtc0102.htm|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

A 1999 survey conducted by the San Francisco Department of Public Health observed that, among the transgender community, less than 3% of those who were [[AMAB|assigned male at birth]] and less than 8% of those who were [[AFAB|assigned female at birth]] identified as bigender.<ref>Clements, K. "The Transgender Community Health Project." San Francisco Department of Public Health. 1999. [http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=cftg-02-02 http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=cftg-02-02] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230531053748/http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=cftg-02-02 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

In 2012, Case and Ramachandran gave a report on the results of a survey of [[genderfluid]] people who call themselves bigender who experience involuntary alternation between female and male states. Case and Ramachandran gave this condition the name "Alternating gender incongruity (AGI)." Case and Ramachandran made the hypothesis that gender alternation may reflect an unusual degree (or depth) of hemispheric switching, and the corresponding suppression of sex appropriate body maps in the parietal cortex. They said that "we hypothesize that tracking the nasal cycle, rate of binocular rivalry, and other markers of hemispheric switching will reveal a physiological basis for AGI individuals' subjective reports of gender switches... We base our hypotheses on ancient and modern associations between the left and right hemispheres and the male and female genders."<ref name="CaseRamachandran2012">{{cite journal|last1=Case|first1=Laura K.|last2=Ramachandran|first2=Vilayanur S.|title=Alternating gender incongruity: A new neuropsychiatric syndrome providing insight into the dynamic plasticity of brain-sex|journal=Medical Hypotheses|volume=78|issue=5|year=2012|pages=626–631|issn=03069877|doi=10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.041}}</ref><ref>"Bigender - Boy Today, Girl Tomorrow?". ''Neuroskeptic''. April 8, 2012. [http://neuroskeptic.blogspot.com/2012/04/bigender-boy-today-girl-tomorrow.html http://neuroskeptic.blogspot.com/2012/04/bigender-boy-today-girl-tomorrow.html] [https://web.archive.org/web/20221206064913/http://neuroskeptic.blogspot.com/2012/04/bigender-boy-today-girl-tomorrow.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Stix|first=Gary|date=20 April 2012 |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alternating-gender-incongruity_n_1438911|title='Alternating Gender Incongruity' Causes Rapid Shifts Of Gender, Scientist Claims |website=The Huffington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213232730/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alternating-gender-incongruity_n_1438911|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> These doctors think that when bigender people feel a change between their gender identities, it might have to do with a change in how they use parts of their brains. The gender change might also have to do with one of the cycles that everyone has in their body, specifically, a valve in the nose that changes sides every two days (the nasal cycle). This is only a hypothesis, meaning that it is an interesting idea that doesn't have proof for now.

In July of 2014, two bigender pride flag designs by Tumblr user no-bucks-for-this-doe were posted on the blog "pridearchive".<ref name="pridearchive">{{Cite web |title=Bigender Pride |author= |work=Pride Archive |date=30 July 2014 |access-date=6 July 2021 |url= https://pridearchive.tumblr.com/post/93315678776/bigender-pride|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531074105/https://pridearchive.tumblr.com/post/93315678776/bigender-pride |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> The first flag has seven horizontal stripes: two shades of pink on the top, followed by a lavender stripe, white middle stripe, another lavender stripe, and two shades of blue on the bottom. The second flag is the same except that the middle stripe is a gradient of white-to-grey. The color meanings were given thusly:

In later years, many alternate bigender pride flags were created after allegations that no-bucks-for-this-doe, aka Sunny, was transphobic and predatory.<ref name="SymbolSage">{{Cite web |title=Bigender Flag – What Does It Represent? |author= |work=Symbol Sage |date=2021 |access-date=6 July 2021 |url= https://symbolsage.com/bi-gender-flag-explained/ |quote=A few years back, there were accusations flying around that the original creator of the 'official' bigender flag showed signs of being transphobic and predatory. Thus, many members of the bigender community felt uncomfortable associating with the original bigender flag. There have been many attempts across the years to conceptualize a brand-new bigender flag – one that's free from the questionable reputation of its designer.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602075428/https://symbolsage.com/bi-gender-flag-explained/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://belmonnt-remade.tumblr.com/post/631901475300327424/a-little-note-on-the-bigender-flag-i-do-not-know|title=a little note on the bigender flag|date=13 October 2020|access-date= 6 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |user=SidiPopsicle |number=1404717734819160065 |title=BEGGING people who add Bigender to pride tweets to research that the original flag was made by a transphobic and abusive pedo, and that there are two other popular redesigns to choose from (i personally prefer the one with the purple stripe in the middle, pictured below)!|date=15 June 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, a tumblr user claiming to be Sunny posted that the allegations against them were "more or less true" and also wrote that "I don't like the idea of my flag being used widely because it reminds me of the person I used to be. But it isn't up to me. Flags belong to the community as a whole, not the creator. Regardless I'm glad it seems to be phasing out."<ref>{{cite web|title=I’m Sunny, the creator of the old bigender flag|date=28 April 2022|author=031exuberantwitness|url=https://www.tumblr.com/031exuberantwitness/682756338431016960/im-sunny-the-creator-of-the-old-bigender-flag-a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526225248/https://www.tumblr.com/031exuberantwitness/682756338431016960/im-sunny-the-creator-of-the-old-bigender-flag-a|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

In 2015, an entry for "bigender" was added to Dictionary.com,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Here Are Some New Words Added To Dictionary.com |author= |work=Dictionary.com |date=6 May 2015 |access-date=21 April 2023 |url= https://www.dictionary.com/e/2015-new-words/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518081454/https://www.dictionary.com/e/2015-new-words/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> defined as "a person who has two gender identities or some combination of both."<ref>"Bigender." ''Dictionary.com.'' Retrieved May 18, 2015. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bigender http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bigender] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220809232145/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bigender Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

In 2017, bigender was one of the 37 gender options added to the dating network Tinder.<ref name="Mallenbaum">{{Cite web |title=What you need to know about Tinder's new gender identity terms |last=Mallenbaum |first=Carly |work=USA TODAY |date=15 November 2016 |access-date=29 April 2020 |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/11/15/tinder-app-transgender-agender-genderqueer/93873790/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602132518/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/11/15/tinder-app-transgender-agender-genderqueer/93873790/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

*The Slovakian musician [[B-Complex]] (aka Matia or Maťo Lenická) is a drum and bass music producer and DJ. Prefers the name Maťo when presenting as a man and the name Matia when presenting as a woman.<ref name="denn_Prel">{{Cite web |title=Prelomil/a B-complex: Keď som muž, tak som Maťo, keď žena, tak Matia |trans-title=B-complex explained: When I'm a man, I'm Mato, when a woman, Matia |last=Pecíková |first=Laura |work=Denník N |date= |access-date=28 March 2020 |url= https://dennikn.sk/321936/prelomila-b-complex-muz-mato-zena-matia/ |language=sk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202222723/https://dennikn.sk/321936/prelomila-b-complex-muz-mato-zena-matia/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> The artist's first major label release was "Beautiful Lies", which appeared on the compilation ''Sick Music'' from Hospital Records. The compilation went on to reach the top 30 on the iTunes UK Download Chart, and was in the top 5 on the Beatport Drum and Bass Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brokenbeats.co.nz/london-elektricity-b-complex-interview/|title=Interview: London Elektricity & B-Complex|publisher=Broken Beats|date=15 June 2009|accessdate=2014-09-17|author=Kivex|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117125947/http://www.brokenbeats.co.nz/london-elektricity-b-complex-interview/|archive-date=17 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hospital Records - B-complex |url=https://www.hospitalrecords.com/shop/artist/b-complex |publisher=Hospital Records |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514041421/https://www.hospitalrecords.com/shop/artist/b-complex |archivedate=2013-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163702/https://www.hospitalrecords.com/shop/artist/b-complex |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> B-Complex goes by she/her pronouns (according to her [https://soundcloud.com/b-complex Soundcloud bio]), and says, "I happen to be a transgendered person as well, bi-gender in particular."<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/bcomplex/posts/10153953399843312 Facebook post], June 6, 2015 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230405183929/https://www.facebook.com/bcomplex/posts/10153953399843312/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

* Canadian sci-fi writer [[A.M. Dellamonica]] describes themself as "bigendered".<ref name="dellamonicapresskit">{{Cite web |title=Press Kit – A.M. Dellamonica |author= |work=alyxdellamonica.com |date= |access-date=8 August 2021 |url= https://alyxdellamonica.com/press-kit/ |quote=Dellamonica tells people they are bigendered, bisexual and bisectional. (The latter means they sing both alto and soprano.) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528013326/https://alyxdellamonica.com/press-kit/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref><ref name="dellamonicatweet">{{cite tweet |user=AlyxDellamonica|number=743281061069787136|date=June 15, 2016|title=Bigendered, bisectional, bisexual. The middle means I sing alto and soprano. I write SF/F/H. Legally married to @kellyoyo #QueerSelfLove}}</ref>

*The Ukranian writer [[R.B. Lemberg]] is bigender.<ref name="RBL-about">http://rblemberg.net/?page_id=16 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230331004532/http://rblemberg.net/?page_id=16 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="RBL-tweet">{{cite tweet|user=RB_Lemberg|number=1022283262906048513|date=July 25, 2018|title=@bogiperson is my spouseperson and Mati the Child is our childperson. We are all #ActuallyAutistic :) I forgot to mention that I am bigender and use the pronoun "they." Good to see you here - come say hello if you feel like it! <3}}</ref> Lemberg's speculative fiction has been published in Lightspeed, Strange Horizons, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Sisters of the Revolution, and Uncanny Magazine.  

* [[James-Beth Merritt]], the author of the ''2018 book Bi-Gender: A Candid Nonbinary Memoir.''<ref name="Harrison">{{Cite web |title=Quick Lit: 'Bi-Gender: A Candid Nonbinary Memoir' by James-Beth Merritt |last=Harrison |first=Margot |work=Seven Days |date=27 February 2019 |access-date=3 October 2020 |url= https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/quick-lit-bi-gender-a-candid-nonbinary-memoir-by-james-beth-merritt/Content?oid=26153161|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525210624/https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/quick-lit-bi-gender-a-candid-nonbinary-memoir-by-james-beth-merritt/Content?oid=26153161 |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* The young adult novelist [[Mia Siegert]] is bigender.<ref name="dive_Writ">{{Cite web |title=Writing from a Place of Truth |author= |work=Diversity in YA |date= |access-date=2 May 2020 |url= https://diversityinya.tumblr.com/post/143740997531/writing-from-a-place-of-truth |quote=I’m bigender, identifying as both a mostly-hetero female and a gay male. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809232144/https://diversityinya.tumblr.com/post/143740997531/writing-from-a-place-of-truth |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> Siegert's debut novel ''Jerkbait'' made it into Goodreads Best YA of May 2016, Top 12 Indie YA from Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, and Top 10 YA of 2016 from AndPop!<ref name="mari">{{Cite web |title=Sensational Sophomores: Interview with Mia Siegert |author=Mari |work=musings of a book girl |date=January 7, 2020 |access-date=May 2, 2020 |url= https://musingsofabookgirl.com/2020/01/07/sensational-sophomores-interview-with-mia-siegert/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226014930/https://musingsofabookgirl.com/2020/01/07/sensational-sophomores-interview-with-mia-siegert/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* The artist [[Nate Stevenson|Nate "ND" Stevenson]] is bigender and transmasculine.<ref>https://twitter.com/Gingerhazing/status/1377305526908841990 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230702172227/https://twitter.com/Gingerhazing/status/1377305526908841990 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> He uses he/him pronouns.

* Mia Siegert's novel ''Somebody Told Me'' has a bigender protagonist who goes by Alexis and/or Aleks.<ref name="Lerner">{{Cite web |title=A Book Trailer, Podcast, and Mia Siegert's Playlist for Somebody Told Me |author= |publisher=Lerner Publishing Group |work=The Lerner Blog |date=May 2020 |access-date=5 July 2020 |url= https://lernerbooks.blog/2020/05/a-book-trailer-podcast-and-mia-siegerts-playlist-for-somebody-told-me.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127074348/https://lernerbooks.blog/2020/05/a-book-trailer-podcast-and-mia-siegerts-playlist-for-somebody-told-me.html |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* The protagonist of ''Baker Thief'', by Claudie Arseneault, is bigender and [[aromantic]].<ref name="Simkiss">{{Cite web |title=Author Interview: Xan West |author=Simkiss, Ceillie |work=Let's Fox About It |date= |access-date=5 October 2020 |url= https://letsfoxaboutit.com/author-interview-xan-west/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809232147/https://www.letsfoxaboutit.com/author-interview-xan-west/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>https://gumroad.com/l/bakerthief [https://web.archive.org/web/20210618151823/https://gumroad.com/l/bakerthief Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

* ''Why We Fight'', by T.J. Klune, has a bigender protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow">{{Cite web |title=Book Recs: Twitter’s Favourite Trans Books |author= |work=Reads Rainbow |date=13 May 2020 |access-date=2 November 2020 |url= https://readsrainbow.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/book-recs-twitters-favourite-trans-books/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225164049/https://readsrainbow.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/book-recs-twitters-favourite-trans-books/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* Currently-in-development dating sim ''The Office Type'' includes the character [[Mx]]. Hura Stapleton, who is bigender.<ref>[https://www.heavythoughtstudios.com/projects/ Heavy Thought Studios - Projects] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230527212505/https://www.heavythoughtstudios.com/projects/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

* Currently-in-development dating sim ''Repurpose'' includes the character Cheri, who is bigender and [[omnisexual]].<ref name="Repurpose">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose (Demo) by Eros |author= |work=itch.io |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://residentrabbit.itch.io/repurpose-demo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515063331/https://residentrabbit.itch.io/repurpose-demo |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref><ref name="kick_Repu">{{Cite web |title=Repurpose |author=Resident Rabbit |work=Kickstarter |date= |access-date=28 October 2020 |url= https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/residentrabbit/repurpose/description|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226150817/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/residentrabbit/repurpose/description |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* Currently-in-development visual novel ''ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area'' includes the character Emhari Abdi, who is a bigender lesbian. Emhari uses both "he/him" and "she/her" pronouns.<ref>{{cite tweet|date=18 July 2020| user=ValiDateGame| number=1284540692962967553|title=Our first mini interview is with Nasr (@trashyvoid ), the artist of Emhari!}}</ref><ref>[https://validategame.com/#cast ValiDate: Meet The Cast!] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230517064141/https://validategame.com/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>