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Genderfluid: Difference between revisions
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== Influences on gender fluidity == | == Influences on gender fluidity == | ||
Usually, gender fluidity happens by itself, so that a person feels like, say, a girl at a certain time, rather than choosing to be a girl at a certain time.<ref>Kat. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=267859#t267859 http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=267859#t267859]</ref> Some genderfluid people find that no outside or inside things tend to influence their gender identity to change. They find that their gender fluidity is unpredictable and happens randomly. Other genderfluid people find that their gender changes depending on the situation, and is influenced by inside or outside sources. Each person who is genderfluid finds that different things can make their gender identity change. For some, their gender fluidity moves from one gender to the next by a regular cycle, resembling a lunar cycle, or synchronizing with their menstrual cycle. Yet other genderfluid people are sometimes able to use their willpower to guide their gender to change in way and/or at the time that they want it to. | Usually, gender fluidity happens by itself, so that a person feels like, say, a girl at a certain time, rather than choosing to be a girl at a certain time.<ref name=":1">Kat. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=267859#t267859 http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=267859#t267859]</ref> Some genderfluid people find that no outside or inside things tend to influence their gender identity to change. They find that their gender fluidity is unpredictable and happens randomly. Other genderfluid people find that their gender changes depending on the situation, and is influenced by inside or outside sources. Each person who is genderfluid finds that different things can make their gender identity change. For some, their gender fluidity moves from one gender to the next by a regular cycle, resembling a lunar cycle, or synchronizing with their menstrual cycle. Yet other genderfluid people are sometimes able to use their willpower to guide their gender to change in way and/or at the time that they want it to. | ||
For genderfluid people who think their changes in gender might have to do with their menstrual cycle, they think it might be caused by how the natural hormone levels rise and fall during that cycle. It’s possible that a person might think that they tend to feel male during their periods even if that’s only rarely the case for them, because the incongruence of that situation would feel noticeable and memorable. The only way to know for sure whether there’s any correlation between a fluid gender identity and a menstrual cycle is if a person keeps a daily journal of it. Here’s how to do science to this research question. For a few months, record your gender fluidity, and fill out a table that looks like this: | For genderfluid people who think their changes in gender might have to do with their menstrual cycle, they think it might be caused by how the natural hormone levels rise and fall during that cycle. It’s possible that a person might think that they tend to feel male during their periods even if that’s only rarely the case for them, because the incongruence of that situation would feel noticeable and memorable. The only way to know for sure whether there’s any correlation between a fluid gender identity and a menstrual cycle is if a person keeps a daily journal of it. Here’s how to do science to this research question. For a few months, record your gender fluidity, and fill out a table that looks like this: | ||
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Genderfluid people don't necessarily look androgynous. They don't necessarily have an ambiguous face, body, or way of dress. | Genderfluid people don't necessarily look androgynous. They don't necessarily have an ambiguous face, body, or way of dress. | ||
Feeling painfully uncomfortable about how one's body and social role don't match one's gender ([[gender dysphoria]]) isn't a requirement in order to be genderfluid. It depends on the person, and each person is different, experiencing gender fluidity in their own way. Some genderfluid people experience [[gender dysphoria]] at times, or all the time. Some want to change their bodies, and some take a physical [[transition]] to do so, which may include hormones or [[surgery]]. Others don't take a transition, because in their personal case, any change they make to their body would only feel right to them when they were in a certain gender, and would feel wrong in others. Yet others have a difficult time planning their transition path, because their feelings change about what they want.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://genderfluidprobs.tumblr.com/post/37659220000/genderfluid-problem-28 http://genderfluidprobs.tumblr.com/post/37659220000/genderfluid-problem-28]</ref><ref | Feeling painfully uncomfortable about how one's body and social role don't match one's gender ([[gender dysphoria]]) isn't a requirement in order to be genderfluid. It depends on the person, and each person is different, experiencing gender fluidity in their own way. Some genderfluid people experience [[gender dysphoria]] at times, or all the time. Some want to change their bodies, and some take a physical [[transition]] to do so, which may include hormones or [[surgery]]. Others don't take a transition, because in their personal case, any change they make to their body would only feel right to them when they were in a certain gender, and would feel wrong in others. Yet others have a difficult time planning their transition path, because their feelings change about what they want.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://genderfluidprobs.tumblr.com/post/37659220000/genderfluid-problem-28 http://genderfluidprobs.tumblr.com/post/37659220000/genderfluid-problem-28]</ref><ref name=":2" /> | ||
Some genderfluid people ask to be called by a different [[Names|name]]<ref>Kat. "Hi I'm new." ''Bigender'' (blog/forum). [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/64281.html http://bigender.livejournal.com/64281.html]</ref> and [[pronouns]] depending on what gender they feel at a certain time. For people who switch between only two genders, this can mean switching between two names. These may be feminine and masculine versions of the same name,<ref>Leo/Leann. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/65263.html?thread=269551#t269551 http://bigender.livejournal.com/65263.html?thread=269551#t269551]</ref> but they could also be names that don't sound alike at all.<ref>DamianBella. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=265811#t265811 http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=265811#t265811]</ref> They may also take a gender-neutral name that works for them at any time, either in addition to these names, or instead of them. | Some genderfluid people ask to be called by a different [[Names|name]]<ref name=":2">Kat. "Hi I'm new." ''Bigender'' (blog/forum). [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/64281.html http://bigender.livejournal.com/64281.html]</ref> and [[pronouns]] depending on what gender they feel at a certain time. For people who switch between only two genders, this can mean switching between two names. These may be feminine and masculine versions of the same name,<ref>Leo/Leann. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/65263.html?thread=269551#t269551 http://bigender.livejournal.com/65263.html?thread=269551#t269551]</ref> but they could also be names that don't sound alike at all.<ref name=":3">DamianBella. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=265811#t265811 http://bigender.livejournal.com/65619.html?thread=265811#t265811]</ref> They may also take a gender-neutral name that works for them at any time, either in addition to these names, or instead of them. | ||
== Compared with multiple personalities == | == Compared with multiple personalities == | ||
Genderfluid people don't think of themselves as having multiple personalities. Some genderfluid people feel like the same person all the time, with the same likes and dislikes, just with a different gender. For them, it isn't like multiple personalities, and they don't have a concern about this. However, some genderfluid people switch between specific personas along with their genders, where each persona has their own likes and dislikes. Those people may notice similarities between this and multiple personalities, and may ask a therapist if they have that condition.<ref | Genderfluid people don't think of themselves as having multiple personalities. Some genderfluid people feel like the same person all the time, with the same likes and dislikes, just with a different gender. For them, it isn't like multiple personalities, and they don't have a concern about this. However, some genderfluid people switch between specific personas along with their genders, where each persona has their own likes and dislikes. Those people may notice similarities between this and multiple personalities, and may ask a therapist if they have that condition.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
The unhealthy form of multiple personalities is called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). It used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). In DID, a switch between personalities means that the other personality isn't aware of the amount of time or things that happen while they weren't the one who was active. When the other personality switches back, they don't remember what happened during that time. That's called a blackout or lost time, and it's the main thing that makes DID risky. The main difference between gender fluidity and DID is that genderfluid people don't have these blackouts.<ref | The unhealthy form of multiple personalities is called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). It used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). In DID, a switch between personalities means that the other personality isn't aware of the amount of time or things that happen while they weren't the one who was active. When the other personality switches back, they don't remember what happened during that time. That's called a blackout or lost time, and it's the main thing that makes DID risky. The main difference between gender fluidity and DID is that genderfluid people don't have these blackouts.<ref name=":1" /> Another difference is that DID is usually thought to be caused by a traumatic experience, such as having been abused as a child. (However, this is debated. It isn't certain that all cases of DID have an origin in trauma.) Genderfluidity isn't caused by trauma.<ref name=":3" /> Another thing that makes trouble in DID is that the personalities can't communicate with one another. | ||
A healthy form of multiple personalities isn't formally recognized by psychology, but there is a community of people who say they have healthy multiplicity or plurality. Personalities within a healthy plural system don't experience lost time, have worked out living agreements similar to house rules, can communicate with one another, and are on friendly terms with one another. A typical case of DID has none of these characteristics, and these characteristics make it possible for a healthy plural system to function well. This is a sign that multiplicity can be just another way that some people's minds work, in the wide spectrum of neurodiversity.<ref name=":0">Cheshire Court productions, “What is multiplicity?” Version 1.1. 2002-05. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/brochure_pluralv1.1.pdf http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/brochure_pluralv1.1.pdf]</ref><ref>“What is multiplicity?” The Layman’s Guide to Multiplicity. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/whatis.html http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/whatis.html]</ref> | A healthy form of multiple personalities isn't formally recognized by psychology, but there is a community of people who say they have healthy multiplicity or plurality. Personalities within a healthy plural system don't experience lost time, have worked out living agreements similar to house rules, can communicate with one another, and are on friendly terms with one another. A typical case of DID has none of these characteristics, and these characteristics make it possible for a healthy plural system to function well. This is a sign that multiplicity can be just another way that some people's minds work, in the wide spectrum of neurodiversity.<ref name=":0">Cheshire Court productions, “What is multiplicity?” Version 1.1. 2002-05. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/brochure_pluralv1.1.pdf http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/brochure_pluralv1.1.pdf]</ref><ref>“What is multiplicity?” The Layman’s Guide to Multiplicity. [http://web.archive.org/web/20161013063943/http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/whatis.html http://www.karitas.net/blackbirds/layman/whatis.html]</ref> | ||