GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION
By Annie Weaver
Feeling free to express our identities is something so important and special today. The world is so diverse and there is no wonder people are beginning to explore other possibilities than the standard societal gender brackets. These lives are ones which should be celebrated.
However, there is still such a long way to come –RIP Briana Ghey 2023.
“I identify as non-binary. Personally, I am not well versed in fashion, but I really like trying new clothes and styles to express myself. I wear outfits which include skirts and dresses to suits and ties pretty frequently and interchangeably, depending on how I feel at the time. The fact I can wear whatever I want whenever I want is really freeing from the expectations of dressing as either male or female, which is why it’s the main avenue I go down for expressing myself. When I go to university I’m also thinking about maybe changing my hairstyle as well to be a little more androgenous.
I often see gender identity being used to mean the label you give yourself. Personally, I think it is our own sense of who we are and how we go about expressing that which makes up our gender identities, which labels then describe.”
- Sam
"Societal gender conventions can prevent individuals from fully expressing themselves and living authentic lives. It's important to challenge these norms and create a more inclusive and accepting society for all genders. You should feel free to wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident, whether that means embracing traditionally feminine clothing, exploring gender-neutral options, or creating your own unique style. Ultimately, your gender identity is yours to define and express in whatever way feels true to you.”
- Harry
“
To me, gender identity is all about feeling free to express myself in ways that I wasn't able to before I discovered my gender identity”
- Ana
“I'm Skyler, a transgender girl. I love using clothing to express myself. It can be really nerve-wracking going out wearing clothes that match my identity because by being visibly transgender you automatically come out to everyone you meet. Even so, I still find it freeing and happy to wear dresses and I remember very positively the few times people complimented me for my outfit or a flag I was wearing. Being trans here is extremely tough – legal protections, a lack of medical rights, and the media all seem out to get you sometimes, but although some people will refuse to recognize you for who you are, being unapologetically trans has not only shown me beauty in myself but also helped to show me a beautiful and friendly side of people around, both in my community and the wider world.
If any other transgender people are reading this, let's keep fighting and being free together!”
- Skyler
"So I came out as non-binary two years ago. The main way I express myself is through my clothes. In the winter and the colder months I'll wear more baggy things that are more cuddly and warm, and then in the summer I'm a bit more flamboyant! I wear crop tops and skirts and things like that because I feel a lot more comfortable in the summer. There are still parts of my journey with gender that I still struggle with, like toilets etcetera, so that's kind of why I wear the baggy stuff I guess; But once I get there with the confidence, like in the summer, it's sort of like this”
- Kayla
