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Undisclosed gender in fiction: Difference between revisions
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== Animation == | == Animation == | ||
* In ''Adventure Time'', a fantasy series, a recurring side character, BMO (Beemo), is popularly seen by fans as genderless, but canon is less than clear on this. BMO is a tiny robot resembling a video game console, with a high, childlike voice (by actress Niki Yang). Nothing in the canon states outright that BMO is female, male, or otherwise. However, a strong clue for the latter is that in "Fionna and Cake," an alternative universe gender-swap episode (meaning all female characters are shown as male and vice versa), BMO is the only character with no visible change, apart from his controller.<ref name="BMOwikia">https://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/BMO</ref> As seen elsewhere on this page, it's not uncommon for robots to be written as genderless. | * In ''Adventure Time'', a fantasy series, a recurring side character, BMO (Beemo), is popularly seen by fans as genderless, but canon is less than clear on this. BMO is a tiny robot resembling a video game console, with a high, childlike voice (by actress Niki Yang). Nothing in the canon states outright that BMO is female, male, or otherwise. However, a strong clue for the latter is that in "Fionna and Cake," an alternative universe gender-swap episode (meaning all female characters are shown as male and vice versa), BMO is the only character with no visible change, apart from his controller.<ref name="BMOwikia">https://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/BMO [https://web.archive.org/web/20230528141716/http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/BMO Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> As seen elsewhere on this page, it's not uncommon for robots to be written as genderless. | ||
** BMO's pronouns: Other characters often use pronouns for BMO in the canon. BMO is called "he" by Finn, Jake, Sleepy Sam, and Cuber in the episodes "Rainy Day Daydream," "Guardians of Sunshine," "Return to the Nightosphere," "The Creeps," and "Five Short Graybles."<ref name="BMOwikia" /> BMO is called "she" by Charlie in "Daddy-Daughter Card Wars" (saying "she sank straight to the bottom"). Fans claim that characters have always alternated between calling BMO "he," "she," and "it," but specific canon evidence of the latter still wants to be recorded here. | ** BMO's pronouns: Other characters often use pronouns for BMO in the canon. BMO is called "he" by Finn, Jake, Sleepy Sam, and Cuber in the episodes "Rainy Day Daydream," "Guardians of Sunshine," "Return to the Nightosphere," "The Creeps," and "Five Short Graybles."<ref name="BMOwikia" /> BMO is called "she" by Charlie in "Daddy-Daughter Card Wars" (saying "she sank straight to the bottom"). Fans claim that characters have always alternated between calling BMO "he," "she," and "it," but specific canon evidence of the latter still wants to be recorded here. | ||
** BMO's titles and descriptions: Though Finn has often referred to BMO as "he," Finn called BMO "M'lady" in "Conquest of Cuteness."<ref name="BMOwikia" /> This may have been facetious. In "Daddy-Daughter Card Wars," Charlie does a Tarot reading for BMO, and says lightheartedly, "this card means you're a man," which amuses BMO. | ** BMO's titles and descriptions: Though Finn has often referred to BMO as "he," Finn called BMO "M'lady" in "Conquest of Cuteness."<ref name="BMOwikia" /> This may have been facetious. In "Daddy-Daughter Card Wars," Charlie does a Tarot reading for BMO, and says lightheartedly, "this card means you're a man," which amuses BMO. | ||
** BMO's make believe: BMO often plays make believe, and takes on male or female roles or characteristics in these fantasies. For example, in "Davey" (describing himself as "a little living boy," and simulating peeing standing up by pouring a cup of water into a toilet), and in "Five Short Graybles" (describing his mirrored persona as "a real baby girl"). In "BMO Noire," BMO role-plays as a masculine detective (appearing in one scene with facial stubble), but the episode title uses the feminine form of "noire," rather than masculine "noir."<ref name="BMOwikia" /> The masculine form is standard in the phrase "film noir," the name of the detective movie genre parodied in that episode. In "James Baxter the Horse," BMO carries an egg around and sings, in part, "BMO, how'd you get so pregnant? Who's the mother? Oh, who's the father?"<ref>"BMO's Pregnant Song." Adventure Time Wikia. http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/BMO%27s_Pregnant_Song</ref> It's not clear if the egg scene is BMO playing make believe, or if the song describes an actual event. Stranger things have happened in the magical Land of Ooo, so it's not always clear what's real and serious or fantastic and facetious. | ** BMO's make believe: BMO often plays make believe, and takes on male or female roles or characteristics in these fantasies. For example, in "Davey" (describing himself as "a little living boy," and simulating peeing standing up by pouring a cup of water into a toilet), and in "Five Short Graybles" (describing his mirrored persona as "a real baby girl"). In "BMO Noire," BMO role-plays as a masculine detective (appearing in one scene with facial stubble), but the episode title uses the feminine form of "noire," rather than masculine "noir."<ref name="BMOwikia" /> The masculine form is standard in the phrase "film noir," the name of the detective movie genre parodied in that episode. In "James Baxter the Horse," BMO carries an egg around and sings, in part, "BMO, how'd you get so pregnant? Who's the mother? Oh, who's the father?"<ref>"BMO's Pregnant Song." Adventure Time Wikia. http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/BMO%27s_Pregnant_Song [https://web.archive.org/web/20190926025946/http://adventuretime.wikia.com:80/wiki/BMO's_Pregnant_Song Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> It's not clear if the egg scene is BMO playing make believe, or if the song describes an actual event. Stranger things have happened in the magical Land of Ooo, so it's not always clear what's real and serious or fantastic and facetious. | ||
* ''Soul Eater'' includes the character Crona Gorgon, the child of the antagonist Medusa Gorgon, who is referred to by exclusively neutral language in the original Japanese manga. Other characters often question whether Crona is male or female due to an androgynous appearance, and none of these questions are ever answered. | * ''Soul Eater'' includes the character Crona Gorgon, the child of the antagonist Medusa Gorgon, who is referred to by exclusively neutral language in the original Japanese manga. Other characters often question whether Crona is male or female due to an androgynous appearance, and none of these questions are ever answered. | ||
* ''Attack on Titan'' character Hange Zoë's gender is never confirmed, and manga author Hajime Isayama has asked the English-language publisher to "avoid gendered pronouns when referring to Hange, or at least to use he AND she with equal frequency."<ref name="Romano-AOT">{{Cite web |title='Attack on Titan' creator gets the last word in debate over character's gender |last=Romano |first=Aja |work=The Daily Dot |date=16 January 2014 |access-date=10 September 2021 |url= https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/attack-titan-snk-hange-hanji-gender-debate/}}</ref> | * ''Attack on Titan'' character Hange Zoë's gender is never confirmed, and manga author Hajime Isayama has asked the English-language publisher to "avoid gendered pronouns when referring to Hange, or at least to use he AND she with equal frequency."<ref name="Romano-AOT">{{Cite web |title='Attack on Titan' creator gets the last word in debate over character's gender |last=Romano |first=Aja |work=The Daily Dot |date=16 January 2014 |access-date=10 September 2021 |url= https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/attack-titan-snk-hange-hanji-gender-debate/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530070301/https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/attack-titan-snk-hange-hanji-gender-debate/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> | ||
* ''Ouran Highschool Host Club'' features the character Haruhi Fujioka, who is assigned female at birth, but "happened to be" dressed in a masculine manner. When their friends discover their sex, they ask, "You're a girl?!" to which they reply, "Biologically, yes." They later state that they do not think a person's gender is important, which many fans see as a sign that Haruhi is [[Agender|agender]] or genderblind. They typically are typically referred to using traditionally feminine pronouns such as "she", though Haruhi has shown no preference. | * ''Ouran Highschool Host Club'' features the character Haruhi Fujioka, who is assigned female at birth, but "happened to be" dressed in a masculine manner. When their friends discover their sex, they ask, "You're a girl?!" to which they reply, "Biologically, yes." They later state that they do not think a person's gender is important, which many fans see as a sign that Haruhi is [[Agender|agender]] or genderblind. They typically are typically referred to using traditionally feminine pronouns such as "she", though Haruhi has shown no preference. | ||
* The character Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV ("Ed" for short) in ''Cowboy Bebop'' is androgynous, and Ed's father is unsure if they are his son or daughter. The director Shinichiro Watanabe said in an interview that "[Ed's] gender is meaningless, we don't need it. [...] I wanted to create a character that surpasses humanity. I personally think that he might not even be human."<ref name="Rizzo-Smith">{{Cite web |title=The Many Inspirations of Cowboy Bebop Director Shinichiro Watanabe |last=Rizzo-Smith |first=Julian |work=IGN |date=23 November 2017 |access-date=15 October 2020 |url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/24/the-many-inspirations-of-cowboy-bebop-director-shinichiro-watanabe}}</ref> In the 2021 live-action version of the show, Ed is portrayed by a nonbinary actor, Eden Perkins. | * The character Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV ("Ed" for short) in ''Cowboy Bebop'' is androgynous, and Ed's father is unsure if they are his son or daughter. The director Shinichiro Watanabe said in an interview that "[Ed's] gender is meaningless, we don't need it. [...] I wanted to create a character that surpasses humanity. I personally think that he might not even be human."<ref name="Rizzo-Smith">{{Cite web |title=The Many Inspirations of Cowboy Bebop Director Shinichiro Watanabe |last=Rizzo-Smith |first=Julian |work=IGN |date=23 November 2017 |access-date=15 October 2020 |url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/24/the-many-inspirations-of-cowboy-bebop-director-shinichiro-watanabe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330055253/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/24/the-many-inspirations-of-cowboy-bebop-director-shinichiro-watanabe |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> In the 2021 live-action version of the show, Ed is portrayed by a nonbinary actor, Eden Perkins. | ||
== Audio == | == Audio == | ||
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== Books and literature == | == Books and literature == | ||
* Anne Leckie's science fiction novels ''Ancillary Justice'' (2013) and ''Ancillary Sword'' (2014) were set in a futuristic society that is indifferent to gender, so all the characters are called by [[English neutral pronouns#She|gender-neutral "she" pronouns]], leaving their actual gender and sex undisclosed. Leckie says she had an assumption at the time that gender is binary, so these are likely not nonbinary characters.<ref>Geek's Guide to the Galaxy, "Sci-fi's hottest new writer won't tell you the sex of her characters." October 11, 2014. Wired. http://www.wired.com/2014/10/geeks-guide-ann-leckie/</ref> | * Anne Leckie's science fiction novels ''Ancillary Justice'' (2013) and ''Ancillary Sword'' (2014) were set in a futuristic society that is indifferent to gender, so all the characters are called by [[English neutral pronouns#She|gender-neutral "she" pronouns]], leaving their actual gender and sex undisclosed. Leckie says she had an assumption at the time that gender is binary, so these are likely not nonbinary characters.<ref>Geek's Guide to the Galaxy, "Sci-fi's hottest new writer won't tell you the sex of her characters." October 11, 2014. Wired. http://www.wired.com/2014/10/geeks-guide-ann-leckie/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230322233347/https://www.wired.com/2014/10/geeks-guide-ann-leckie/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> | ||
* In the ''Choose Your Own Adventure'' series of interactive fiction books, the player's character is always written with no implications about their gender. The idea was that the main character of the book ''was'' the reader, who could be any gender, so the character was described as little as possible. The illustrators were sometimes able to make the player's character look androgynous, such as by showing them in shadows, or wearing costumes that hide their face. This was all intentional. However, in some of the books they simply drew the character as looking like a boy, even though the player's character was still written about in only a gender-neutral way. | * In the ''Choose Your Own Adventure'' series of interactive fiction books, the player's character is always written with no implications about their gender. The idea was that the main character of the book ''was'' the reader, who could be any gender, so the character was described as little as possible. The illustrators were sometimes able to make the player's character look androgynous, such as by showing them in shadows, or wearing costumes that hide their face. This was all intentional. However, in some of the books they simply drew the character as looking like a boy, even though the player's character was still written about in only a gender-neutral way. | ||
* In K. A. Cook's short story "Misstery Man" in ''Crooked Words'', an androgynous-looking superhero by that name has never disclosed their gender, resulting in rude speculation in the local newspapers. This frustrates the unrelated nonbinary main character, Darcy, who thinks it would be easier to come out if only someone famous like that would come out or otherwise make the newspaper gossip stop.<ref>K. A. Cook, "Misstery Man." Crooked Words. Unpaged.</ref> | * In K. A. Cook's short story "Misstery Man" in ''Crooked Words'', an androgynous-looking superhero by that name has never disclosed their gender, resulting in rude speculation in the local newspapers. This frustrates the unrelated nonbinary main character, Darcy, who thinks it would be easier to come out if only someone famous like that would come out or otherwise make the newspaper gossip stop.<ref>K. A. Cook, "Misstery Man." Crooked Words. Unpaged.</ref> | ||
* In Alastair Reynolds's science fiction novel ''On the Steel Breeze,'' one character is called by gender-neutral [[English neutral pronouns#Ve|"ve" pronouns]]. The novel never gives any exposition about this character's sex, gender, or pronouns, and ver gender-neutrality doesn't influence the plot. The lack of remark gives the impression that a nonbinary gender is unremarkable, but this is also why some readers thought the pronouns were a misprint.<ref>Outis, "Gender-neutral characters and pronouns." November 20, 2013. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1580481-gender-neutral-characters-and-pronouns</ref> The lack of discussion about the character's gender also means that this is an example of undisclosed gender, rather than nonbinary representation. | * In Alastair Reynolds's science fiction novel ''On the Steel Breeze,'' one character is called by gender-neutral [[English neutral pronouns#Ve|"ve" pronouns]]. The novel never gives any exposition about this character's sex, gender, or pronouns, and ver gender-neutrality doesn't influence the plot. The lack of remark gives the impression that a nonbinary gender is unremarkable, but this is also why some readers thought the pronouns were a misprint.<ref>Outis, "Gender-neutral characters and pronouns." November 20, 2013. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1580481-gender-neutral-characters-and-pronouns [https://web.archive.org/web/20230505214112/https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1580481-gender-neutral-characters-and-pronouns Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The lack of discussion about the character's gender also means that this is an example of undisclosed gender, rather than nonbinary representation. | ||
* Atsuko Asano's ''No. 6'' contains many androgynous characters, including Inukashi, who Shion, the main character, is unable to tell their gender due to their long hair and thin body. In the english translation, Inukashi is referred to by male pronouns. | * Atsuko Asano's ''No. 6'' contains many androgynous characters, including Inukashi, who Shion, the main character, is unable to tell their gender due to their long hair and thin body. In the english translation, Inukashi is referred to by male pronouns. | ||
* In Maïa Mazaurette's french novel "Rien ne nous survivra - Le pire est Avenir", one of the main characters called Silence is never called by either male or female pronouns. The whole book managed to avoid gender qualification for this character. (French is a very binary language; even furniture has a gender, so it's quite an accomplishment) | * In Maïa Mazaurette's french novel "Rien ne nous survivra - Le pire est Avenir", one of the main characters called Silence is never called by either male or female pronouns. The whole book managed to avoid gender qualification for this character. (French is a very binary language; even furniture has a gender, so it's quite an accomplishment) | ||
* In ''Pew'', by Catherine Lacey, the citizens of a small town find "a person of indeterminate race and gender" asleep in a church pew. This person, who becomes known as Pew, refuses to speak or identify themself in any way. At first the townspeople are simply curious, but eventually they start to distrust and mistreat Pew.<ref name="Pew">{{Cite web |title=Book Review - Pew by Catherine Lacey |last=Bufferd |first=Lauren |work=BookPage.com |date=August 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020 |url= https://bookpage.com/reviews/25326-catherine-lacey-pew-fiction }}</ref> | * In ''Pew'', by Catherine Lacey, the citizens of a small town find "a person of indeterminate race and gender" asleep in a church pew. This person, who becomes known as Pew, refuses to speak or identify themself in any way. At first the townspeople are simply curious, but eventually they start to distrust and mistreat Pew.<ref name="Pew">{{Cite web |title=Book Review - Pew by Catherine Lacey |last=Bufferd |first=Lauren |work=BookPage.com |date=August 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020 |url= https://bookpage.com/reviews/25326-catherine-lacey-pew-fiction |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004070720/https://www.bookpage.com/reviews/25326-catherine-lacey-pew-fiction/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> | ||
* ''Brooklyn, Burning'' by Steve Brezenoff tells the story of two homeless teenagers, Kid and Scout. Kid's and Scout's gender and orientation are never specified.<ref name="good_Broo">{{Cite web |title=Brooklyn, Burning |author= |work=goodreads.com |date= |access-date=9 October 2020 |url= https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10628114-brooklyn-burning}}</ref> | * ''Brooklyn, Burning'' by Steve Brezenoff tells the story of two homeless teenagers, Kid and Scout. Kid's and Scout's gender and orientation are never specified.<ref name="good_Broo">{{Cite web |title=Brooklyn, Burning |author= |work=goodreads.com |date= |access-date=9 October 2020 |url= https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10628114-brooklyn-burning|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322150829/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10628114-brooklyn-burning|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
* ''Written on the Body'', by Jeanette Winterson, is narrated from the point of view of someone with unspecified gender.<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15054.Written_on_the_Body</ref> | * ''Written on the Body'', by Jeanette Winterson, is narrated from the point of view of someone with unspecified gender.<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15054.Written_on_the_Body [https://web.archive.org/web/20230220124223/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15054.Written_on_the_Body Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> | ||
* ''Sphinx'', by Anne Garréta, is a romance between the narrator and their lover "A***", which is written entirely without gendering either one of them. It was originally published in [[Gender neutral language in French|French]] in 1986, and an English translation came out in 2015.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_F._Garr%C3%A9ta</ref> | * ''Sphinx'', by Anne Garréta, is a romance between the narrator and their lover "A***", which is written entirely without gendering either one of them. It was originally published in [[Gender neutral language in French|French]] in 1986, and an English translation came out in 2015.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_F._Garr%C3%A9ta [https://web.archive.org/web/20220129060853/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_F._Garr%C3%A9ta Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> | ||
* ''The Cook and the Carpenter: A Novel by the Carpenter'', by June Davis Arnold, is written using na/nan pronouns, and the protagonists' genders are not revealed until near the end.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Carpenter-Cutting-Lesbian-Literature/dp/0814706312#customerReviews</ref> | * ''The Cook and the Carpenter: A Novel by the Carpenter'', by June Davis Arnold, is written using na/nan pronouns, and the protagonists' genders are not revealed until near the end.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Carpenter-Cutting-Lesbian-Literature/dp/0814706312#customerReviews [https://web.archive.org/web/20130704143357/http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Carpenter-Cutting-Lesbian-Literature/dp/0814706312 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> | ||
* ''Hello Now'', by Jenny Valentine, never reveals the gender of Jude.<ref name="good_Esmé">{{Cite web |title=Esmée D'Costa's review of Hello Now |author= |work=goodreads.com |date=3 December 2020 |access-date=12 December 2020 |url= https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3650187212?book_show_action=true}}</ref> | * ''Hello Now'', by Jenny Valentine, never reveals the gender of Jude.<ref name="good_Esmé">{{Cite web |title=Esmée D'Costa's review of Hello Now |author= |work=goodreads.com |date=3 December 2020 |access-date=12 December 2020 |url= https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3650187212?book_show_action=true|archive-url=False |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> | ||
* ''Call Me Tree / Llamame arbol'' (2014) is a bilingual children's book starring a child of unspecified gender.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Call Me Tree / Llamame arbol |author= |work=Mombian |date= |access-date=8 November 2021 |url= https://mombian.com/database/call-me-tree-llamame-arbol/}}</ref> | * ''Call Me Tree / Llamame arbol'' (2014) is a bilingual children's book starring a child of unspecified gender.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Call Me Tree / Llamame arbol |author= |work=Mombian |date= |access-date=8 November 2021 |url= https://mombian.com/database/call-me-tree-llamame-arbol/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429164541/https://mombian.com/database/call-me-tree-llamame-arbol/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
== Comics and graphic novels == | == Comics and graphic novels == | ||
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* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161219092841/http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898265-username Username: Evie]'' by Joe Sugg - Sci-fi graphic novel about a teenage girl's adventures in a virtual universe. One character, Unity, has an androgynous appearance and was coded "to represent every man and woman here". Other characters seem to be unable to gender them (e.g. "I've seen that guy before. Or is it a girl?"). | * ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161219092841/http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898265-username Username: Evie]'' by Joe Sugg - Sci-fi graphic novel about a teenage girl's adventures in a virtual universe. One character, Unity, has an androgynous appearance and was coded "to represent every man and woman here". Other characters seem to be unable to gender them (e.g. "I've seen that guy before. Or is it a girl?"). | ||
* In the Sailor Moon franchise, across the various comic and animated adaptations (not counting bowdlerized English dubs), there are some characters who aren't gender conforming. | * In the Sailor Moon franchise, across the various comic and animated adaptations (not counting bowdlerized English dubs), there are some characters who aren't gender conforming. | ||
** One such character is Haruka Tenoh, whose heroic alter-ego is Sailor Uranus. She looks like a masculine woman, and is in a lesbian relationship with Sailor Neptune. Japanese has several different first-person pronouns (equivalent to "I, me") that speakers can use to express their gender. Sailor Uranus uses the informal masculine first-person pronoun "boku" for herself. She alternates between feminine attire (including a uniform with a skirt) and dressing in such a masculine way that other characters think she is a man, so she is gender nonconforming. Because all Senshi are women, she is necessarily a woman, at least in some way. However, some dialog in the canon talks about Haruka's gender, and fans disagree on how to interpret these remarks. In the manga, Sailor Neptune tells Sailor Moon, “Uranus is both a man and a woman. A soldier of both genders, with strengths and personalities of each.” This line also appears in the animated adaptation, in Sailor Moon Crystal. In the manga, when Sailor Moon (in her alter ego as Usagi) directly asks Haruka if she is a man or a woman, Haruka responds, “A man or a woman… is it that important?” (Or, depending on the translation: "Man, woman... why should something like that matter?")<ref>SailorSoapbox, "Setting The Record Straight: Haruka’s Gender & The Prince Uranus 'Scandal'." ''The Art of (Overanalyzing) Animation'' (blog). January 29, 2014. https://overanalyzinganimation.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/setting-the-record-straight-harukas-gender-identity-the-prince-uranus-scandal</ref> Fans have variously interpreted these remarks in the canon as meaning that Haruka is a butch lesbian woman who is in touch with her masculine side, and/or physically intersex, and/or that her gender identity is not strictly male or female. This is with the understanding that in the 1990s in Japan, we did not have the widely-known familiarity with or terms for nonbinary identities that we have today, but people with nonbinary identities did exist in that time and place. The characters in Sailor Moon are all based around astrological symbolism, so it's relevant that Uranus is a planet associated with gender nonconformity and same-gender attraction. These associations with the planet Uranus in astrology are so widely known that in the 1870s, one of the first movements for LGBT rights referred to themselves as [[history of nonbinary gender#1870s|Uranians]]. | ** One such character is Haruka Tenoh, whose heroic alter-ego is Sailor Uranus. She looks like a masculine woman, and is in a lesbian relationship with Sailor Neptune. Japanese has several different first-person pronouns (equivalent to "I, me") that speakers can use to express their gender. Sailor Uranus uses the informal masculine first-person pronoun "boku" for herself. She alternates between feminine attire (including a uniform with a skirt) and dressing in such a masculine way that other characters think she is a man, so she is gender nonconforming. Because all Senshi are women, she is necessarily a woman, at least in some way. However, some dialog in the canon talks about Haruka's gender, and fans disagree on how to interpret these remarks. In the manga, Sailor Neptune tells Sailor Moon, “Uranus is both a man and a woman. A soldier of both genders, with strengths and personalities of each.” This line also appears in the animated adaptation, in Sailor Moon Crystal. In the manga, when Sailor Moon (in her alter ego as Usagi) directly asks Haruka if she is a man or a woman, Haruka responds, “A man or a woman… is it that important?” (Or, depending on the translation: "Man, woman... why should something like that matter?")<ref>SailorSoapbox, "Setting The Record Straight: Haruka’s Gender & The Prince Uranus 'Scandal'." ''The Art of (Overanalyzing) Animation'' (blog). January 29, 2014. https://overanalyzinganimation.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/setting-the-record-straight-harukas-gender-identity-the-prince-uranus-scandal [https://web.archive.org/web/20230629040244/https://overanalyzinganimation.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/setting-the-record-straight-harukas-gender-identity-the-prince-uranus-scandal/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Fans have variously interpreted these remarks in the canon as meaning that Haruka is a butch lesbian woman who is in touch with her masculine side, and/or physically intersex, and/or that her gender identity is not strictly male or female. This is with the understanding that in the 1990s in Japan, we did not have the widely-known familiarity with or terms for nonbinary identities that we have today, but people with nonbinary identities did exist in that time and place. The characters in Sailor Moon are all based around astrological symbolism, so it's relevant that Uranus is a planet associated with gender nonconformity and same-gender attraction. These associations with the planet Uranus in astrology are so widely known that in the 1870s, one of the first movements for LGBT rights referred to themselves as [[history of nonbinary gender#1870s|Uranians]]. | ||
==Movies== | ==Movies== | ||
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===2014=== | ===2014=== | ||
*In the action/puzzle/driving game ''Roundabout'', the protagonist Georgio Manos has no specified gender. No pronouns are ever used to refer to Georgio. The name "Georgio" is masculine but Georgio is played by a woman. The developers have stated that they purposely left out any reference to Georgio's gender because they thought it was unimportant to the mechanics of the game.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/303430/discussions/0/622954023420998077/ |title=Georgio gay? |quote=The developers, in a recent livestream of the game, have made mention to the fact that Georgio has no gender specified in the game. They have said that this is so because "it's not very important to being a revolving limo driver." I think that this is TOTALLY INCREDIBLE and it leaves the gender up to the interpretation, which is PHENOMENAL. Please enjoy the game and keep an eye on our queer characters!|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> Despite this, the game is tagged "Female Protagonist" on the Steam store.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundabout on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/303430/Roundabout/|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> | *In the action/puzzle/driving game ''Roundabout'', the protagonist Georgio Manos has no specified gender. No pronouns are ever used to refer to Georgio. The name "Georgio" is masculine but Georgio is played by a woman. The developers have stated that they purposely left out any reference to Georgio's gender because they thought it was unimportant to the mechanics of the game.<ref>{{cite web |date=2015 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/303430/discussions/0/622954023420998077/ |title=Georgio gay? |quote=The developers, in a recent livestream of the game, have made mention to the fact that Georgio has no gender specified in the game. They have said that this is so because "it's not very important to being a revolving limo driver." I think that this is TOTALLY INCREDIBLE and it leaves the gender up to the interpretation, which is PHENOMENAL. Please enjoy the game and keep an eye on our queer characters!|access-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212061321/http://steamcommunity.com:80/app/303430/discussions/0/622954023420998077 |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> Despite this, the game is tagged "Female Protagonist" on the Steam store.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundabout on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/303430/Roundabout/|access-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214191323/https://store.steampowered.com/app/303430/Roundabout/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
* ''[http://crypticstitching.storynexus.com/s Cryptic Stitching]'', an interactive novel by Ursula Vernon about stuffed animals living as hunter-gatherers in a magical Ice Age. When creating one's character, the player can choose to be female, male, or "fuzzy," which isn't any gender in particular, "Given that you're a sentient stuffed animal and all." | * ''[http://crypticstitching.storynexus.com/s Cryptic Stitching]'', an interactive novel by Ursula Vernon about stuffed animals living as hunter-gatherers in a magical Ice Age. When creating one's character, the player can choose to be female, male, or "fuzzy," which isn't any gender in particular, "Given that you're a sentient stuffed animal and all." | ||
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===2016=== | ===2016=== | ||
* In ''Dishonored 2'', a noble named Wyman is mentioned several times, being the lover of main character Emily Kaldwin, and is never referred to with any gendered words. Wyman does not appear in-game but does appear in the novels ''Dishonored: The Corroded Man'' and ''Dishonored: The Return of Daud''. The novels' author, Adam Christopher, stated on Twitter that "Wyman is [[gender neutral|gender-neutral]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://functionalfutch.tumblr.com/post/150874316591/did-you-see-that-the-he-pronoun-in-regards-to |title=Anonymous said: DID YOU SEE that the "he" pronoun in regards to wyman in that book was a typo!|date=24 September 2016}}</ref> However, that tweet was deleted, and in a Reddit AMA the next month, Adam was more vague, saying "Wyman's gender is purposefully left unsaid, yes. Let your headcanon go wild :)", and also saying that Arkane Studios had the full character details which could not be revealed yet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/dishonored/comments/56zdra/i_am_adam_christopher_novelist_and_comic_writer/ |title=I am Adam Christopher, novelist and comic writer, and author of the new book DISHONORED: THE CORRODED MAN. Ask me anything! |date=11 October 2016|quote=Arkane came up with the character of Wyman, and there's a backstory there, but they don't like to detail characters or factions until they're ready to do so in game. [...] but Wyman's gender is purposefully left unsaid, yes. Let your headcanon go wild :)}}</ref> | * In ''Dishonored 2'', a noble named Wyman is mentioned several times, being the lover of main character Emily Kaldwin, and is never referred to with any gendered words. Wyman does not appear in-game but does appear in the novels ''Dishonored: The Corroded Man'' and ''Dishonored: The Return of Daud''. The novels' author, Adam Christopher, stated on Twitter that "Wyman is [[gender neutral|gender-neutral]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://functionalfutch.tumblr.com/post/150874316591/did-you-see-that-the-he-pronoun-in-regards-to |title=Anonymous said: DID YOU SEE that the "he" pronoun in regards to wyman in that book was a typo!|date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902202723/http://functionalfutch.tumblr.com/post/150874316591/did-you-see-that-the-he-pronoun-in-regards-to|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> However, that tweet was deleted, and in a Reddit AMA the next month, Adam was more vague, saying "Wyman's gender is purposefully left unsaid, yes. Let your headcanon go wild :)", and also saying that Arkane Studios had the full character details which could not be revealed yet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/dishonored/comments/56zdra/i_am_adam_christopher_novelist_and_comic_writer/ |title=I am Adam Christopher, novelist and comic writer, and author of the new book DISHONORED: THE CORRODED MAN. Ask me anything! |date=11 October 2016|quote=Arkane came up with the character of Wyman, and there's a backstory there, but they don't like to detail characters or factions until they're ready to do so in game. [...] but Wyman's gender is purposefully left unsaid, yes. Let your headcanon go wild :)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606141156/https://www.reddit.com/r/dishonored/comments/56zdra/i_am_adam_christopher_novelist_and_comic_writer/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
* In ''Pokémon Go'', Blanche - the leader of Team Mystic - is gender-ambiguous in appearance. Yūsuke Kozaki - the game's character designer - has stated on Twitter that Blanche's gender is "whatever impression or feeling you get from the design".<ref>{{cite tweet| user=libbydango |number=762127788891525120 |date=6 August 2016 |title=blanche's gender confirmed as "whatever impression or feeling you get from the design" \o/}}</ref> Third-person pronouns are not used in-game to describe any of the team leaders. In addition, the game does not ask the player about their gender, but instead asks them to "choose your style" when creating a character. | * In ''Pokémon Go'', Blanche - the leader of Team Mystic - is gender-ambiguous in appearance. Yūsuke Kozaki - the game's character designer - has stated on Twitter that Blanche's gender is "whatever impression or feeling you get from the design".<ref>{{cite tweet| user=libbydango |number=762127788891525120 |date=6 August 2016 |title=blanche's gender confirmed as "whatever impression or feeling you get from the design" \o/}}</ref> Third-person pronouns are not used in-game to describe any of the team leaders. In addition, the game does not ask the player about their gender, but instead asks them to "choose your style" when creating a character. | ||
===2018=== | ===2018=== | ||
*In the visual novel ''Charade Maniacs'', the character Iochi Mizuki has an [[androgynous]] appearance and their gender is never specified. Mizuki "often teases about whether they're a man or a woman." Mizuki is voiced by a cisgender woman and uses the masculine pronoun "boku" for themself.<ref name="CManiacs">{{Cite web |title=Charade Maniacs – Review / Summary |author=estearisa |work=Otome Adventures |date=13 August 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |url= https://yuscake.com/2020/08/13/charade-maniacs-review-summary/}}</ref> | *In the visual novel ''Charade Maniacs'', the character Iochi Mizuki has an [[androgynous]] appearance and their gender is never specified. Mizuki "often teases about whether they're a man or a woman." Mizuki is voiced by a cisgender woman and uses the masculine pronoun "boku" for themself.<ref name="CManiacs">{{Cite web |title=Charade Maniacs – Review / Summary |author=estearisa |work=Otome Adventures |date=13 August 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |url= https://yuscake.com/2020/08/13/charade-maniacs-review-summary/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601213647/https://yuscake.com/2020/08/13/charade-maniacs-review-summary/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> | ||
===2020=== | ===2020=== | ||
* In ''Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War'', the protagonist character can be customized with a "classified" gender, in which case the game's voiced dialogue will refer to the protagonist with [[singular they]] pronouns.<ref name="BlackOps">{{Cite web |title=Black Ops Cold War character creation will let you craft your own agent and includes gender neutral VO |last=Hurley |first=Leon |work=gamesradar |date=August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.gamesradar.com/black-ops-cold-war-character-creation-gender-neutral/}}</ref> The announcement of this drew criticism from many people.<ref name="Milton">{{Cite web |title=Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will let users play as a non-binary imperialist war-hungry killer |last=Milton |first=Josh |work=PinkNews |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/31/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-non-binary-gender-neutral-ronald-raegan-twitter/}}</ref> | * In ''Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War'', the protagonist character can be customized with a "classified" gender, in which case the game's voiced dialogue will refer to the protagonist with [[singular they]] pronouns.<ref name="BlackOps">{{Cite web |title=Black Ops Cold War character creation will let you craft your own agent and includes gender neutral VO |last=Hurley |first=Leon |work=gamesradar |date=August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.gamesradar.com/black-ops-cold-war-character-creation-gender-neutral/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226093844/https://www.gamesradar.com/black-ops-cold-war-character-creation-gender-neutral |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> The announcement of this drew criticism from many people.<ref name="Milton">{{Cite web |title=Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will let users play as a non-binary imperialist war-hungry killer |last=Milton |first=Josh |work=PinkNews |date=31 August 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/31/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-non-binary-gender-neutral-ronald-raegan-twitter/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808203224/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/08/31/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-non-binary-gender-neutral-ronald-raegan-twitter/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||