In January 2023, Bella Ramsay, the famous actress of “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us,” announced that she is Genderfluid. After hearing this news, many people looked for the meaning of this term. If you have listened to the term Genderfluid or floating gender but do not know its exact meaning, we must say that you are not alone. Genderfluidity shows how one’s gender identity may be beyond conventional gender stereotypes of males and females. In this article, we explain the meaning of this term and everything you need to know about it.
What does gender identity mean?
Before explaining the meaning of Genderfluid, we must get acquainted with the concept of gender identity. Gender identity means the inner sense of being a woman, man, or trans; others do not necessarily see or understand it because it is internal.
Clinical psychologists consider gender identity to be a person’s deep sense of their gender. This feeling may or may not match the gender you were assigned at birth or the identity others identify you with. In the first case, you are called “cisgender”; in the second, you are trans or transgender.
In general, gender identity is related to people’s internal experience, and this experience is not necessarily related to what their chromosomes, organs, or physical characteristics show.
What does gender expression mean?
The second concept that you should know about before explaining the meaning of Genderfluid is gender expression. Gender identity is different from gender expression. Identity refers to a person’s inner feelings, while gender expression refers to how he presents himself. Gender expression means how people express their gender identity. Anyone can tell their gender in masculine or feminine ways or may even appear as a non-binary individual.
What is Genderfluid?
The floating of gender identity means that a person does not have a fixed or specific feeling for the gender he identifies with. Her gender identity or expression may change over a day, a week, a month, or a year or based on her emotional relationship or psychological state. The gender identity or expression of these individuals is not fixed and may include one gender, multiple genders, or even no gender.
For some young people, genderfluidity is a way to explore gender before reaching a more stable gender expression or identity, but for others, it’s a bit different. Genderfluidity in this group continues as part of their life experience until the end of life.
The identity of these people is usually classified as transgender or transgender because these terms are used for people whose gender identity does not match what is registered on their birth certificate.
Not everyone who changes their gender expression or identity should be considered genderfluid. Additionally, not everyone is interested in medical treatment to change and conform to their gender identity and confirm their gender.
History of Genderfluid
Genderfluidity is a relatively new term, but that doesn’t mean such people haven’t existed throughout history. These people have always existed and lived among us. Despite this, this term has not yet taken root in some societies.
The term floating gender has become more popular worldwide since the mid-2000s. Since then, the conversation about gender and gender identity has increased. Today, although the flag of Genderfluid is also known among the flags of gender minorities, this issue is still not institutionalized in the world as it should be.
How does gender develop and change?
This is one of the most critical questions that may come to your mind after learning about Genderfluid. Usually, the gender identity of people is formed in early childhood (2 or 3 years old). Gender identity is formed in several social contexts, which include:
- the individual’s family;
- larger social groups;
- The society and the time in which he lives.
Each of these three platforms may have different norms and expectations regarding the expression and gender identity of a person. For example, a child may be born into a family where all members believe that gender is more complicated than being a boy or a girl. In this family, diversity of gender expressions is often encouraged. This same child may live in a town where most people believe “boys should be like boys” and “girls should look like girls.” It is even possible that this child will grow up in a society and a time when the norms align with the standards of the city where he lives. As a result, this child feels freer to express gender or express a different identity at home than in other groups.
Many people’s gender identity and expression are formed early and remain stable over time, but for some people, it happens differently. Such changes may occur at any time in a person’s life, but this is usually more common in childhood and adolescence than in adulthood.
What is the difference between floating gender and transgender?
Although some people’s gender identity is formed in early childhood, not everyone is. Some people may identify with one gender at once, and this identity changes later. For example, a person whose gender is registered in the birth certificate of a woman may introduce himself as a girl until the end of his teenage years and then declare that he is a boy until the end of his life. Such a person is called trans, but he is not necessarily Genderfluid.
A person with a floating gender may, for example, be a boy until age 20, then become non-binary, and then become a boy again. Such a person’s gender identity or expression changes one or more times.
Although the identity of these people is floating, we should always pay attention to a more subtle point. These people may never use the term genderfluid as an identity label.
Genderfluid and the health of children and adolescents
Children and adolescents who express or recognize their gender differently from the gender assigned at birth are subject to discrimination and misplaced prejudices, just like adults with this characteristic. The experiences of these people may cause minority anxiety, which damages their mental and physical health. Trans youth are 2 to 3 times more prone to depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors than same-sex youth.
In all societies, all people are expected to be “normal.” As a result, a young person with a floating gender is exposed to prejudice and discrimination more than others because his identity change or gender expression is contrary to common expectations. Widespread expectations dictate that all aspects of a person’s personality are formed early and stable.
However, traumatic interactions do not constantly occur in ordinary same-sex communities. Sometimes, someone with a floating gender may face discrimination in transgender communities and are not considered “real transgender.” Seeing someone more feminine one day and dressed more masculine the next can be confusing or even threatening to anyone with rigid ideas about gender.
Floating gender detection
If your gender doesn’t match society’s expectations, it becomes tough to discover your true identity. If you go to a clothing store, watch TV commercials, or even think about normal romantic relationships, there are clearly defined roles, and it’s not easy to discover your identity amid the chaos.
However, there are ways to figure this out. One of the best is to talk to a mental health professional who is familiar with the issue of gender identity. This expert knows what questions to ask you so that your assignment is determined by yourself. He will probably ask you about your role in your sexual fantasies. It may also ask questions like:
- How do you feel about the gender assigned to you at birth, and how does this gender relate to your gender identity?
- Which gender do you identify with the most?
- Do you not identify with either gender?
- How do you feel when someone assumes you are bisexual?
You can recognize the floating of your gender without external help. This requires introspection, setting aside social norms and expectations, and connecting with those who have or are experiencing this issue.
In addition, you can get help from many sources such as books, educational and specialized articles, online groups, and even groups formed in the real world and meet each other.
Do we need to talk about our genderfluidity?
Let’s be clear that you are not obligated to talk about your genderfluidity. However, you may sometimes want to discuss this with your close friends, romantic partners, or family members. In that case, your job is somewhat tricky because it is not very common, and unfortunately, there are some false labels and unfounded assumptions about it.
Although you may not have an easy road ahead, society is slowly moving forward with increasing awareness and acceptance of sexuality and gender issues now and then. By bringing this up to others, they will ask you questions about gender identity and what Genderfluid means to you. You may also need to talk more with your partner about how this affects your relationship.
How to support Genderfluid?
Think of people’s genderfluidity as part of the human experience related to their gender identity and expression. Accepting this issue affects how we treat these people, especially children, and teenagers. In general, when talking with these people, we should pay attention to these points:
- If your partner has a floating gender, listening carefully to what he says is better. Everyone is an expert on their gender. To validate her experience of her gender.
- If the person talking to you about genderfluid is young, you must be patient. Genderfluidity may be part of the process of developing her gender identity.
- Support genderfluid youth to make informed decisions about gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy or surgery.
- Introduce these people to others with similar experiences so they can talk to them.
you say
Have you ever interacted with genderfluid people? How much do you know about this issue? Tell us and the audience “how” about your experiences.
