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Following the reading of an article in which the author remarked on their gender fluidity had me thinking about my own gender.
I am male, I like being male and I have no intention of changing from being a male, and yet I like to wear women's clothing, I like perfumes and jewellery -- and of course, shoes! So why is this? Well it turns out I am probably bi-gender; I'd never heard of this. It is not the same as non-binary, transgender, gender-fluid et al. but a definition all it's own and might explain why I like doing both male things and female things. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia which I found quite interesting:
Bigender (also bi-gender or dual gender) people have two gender identities and behaviors. Identifying as bigender is typically understood to mean that one identifies as both male and female or moves between masculine gender expression and feminine gender expression, having two distinct gender identities simultaneously or fluctuating between them.[40][41][42] This is different from identifying as genderfluid, as those who identify as genderfluid may not go back and forth between any fixed gender identities and may experience an entire range or spectrum of identities over time.[43][44] The American Psychological Association calls bigender identity part of the umbrella of transgender identities.[45] Some bigender people express two distinct personas, which may be feminine, masculine, agender, androgyne, or other gender identities; others find that they identify as two genders simultaneously. A 1999 survey conducted by the San Francisco Department of Public Health observed that, among the transgender community, 3% of those who were assigned male at birth and 8% of those assigned female at birth identified as either "a transvestite, cross-dresser, drag queen, or a bigendered person".[46] A 2016 Harris poll conducted on behalf of GLAAD found that 1% of millennials identify as bigender.
I particularly like the reference to masculine and feminine gender expression as my persona does change depending on my mode of dress.
I'm not a big fan of labels as such but it's nice to know our activity as cross-dressers is recognised and not seen just as an aberration.
NB I do prefer the annotation bi-gender and not bigender, the latter being able to be pronounced 'big ender' which may not be very flattering 🙂
Interesting term, and thanks for the data, too.
I'm going to have to read some more about this. One of the Savannah Hauk books I bought recently has a section on gender as a spectrum and various description/label points on (or off) it, which I read but didn't stop to analyse too much. On reflection, that could use some closer study. I currently think of myself as male with a pronounced feminine streak, but that wasn't really one of the descriptions that I remember in the book, and it may even amount to more than that. I'm enjoying being Fiona immensely, I can almost not think of anything else, but I realise I need to take the time and devote some serious thought, to be sure of the relationship between her and my drab self before I can present us both properly to the world. Thanks for flagging it up hon 🤗
"I currently think of myself as male with a pronounced feminine streak..." is a good way to describe me. I'm not sure where I'm going or how far. I could wake up tomorrow and say "I'm done with Lauren" but I doubt that's going to happen. I like being Lauren and exploring my feminine side. I guess I take things one day at a time. There's my .02 cents.
One day I am George at Asda then the next Izabel of London then Florence and Fred or even Joe Brown I'm quite fluid with labels............
Becca -
Thank you for posting this. This is the first time I have heard the term bi-gender. As the definition appears I would have to say it applies to me. I am male but love presenting as female and expressing that part of myself. I only dress at home, however, having pierced ears allows me to express some part of myself outside the house. There are also times, admittedly very few, where I will underdress. Being able to express this part of my self is freeing.
XOXO
Suzanne
Humans are nature's labelmakers. Our brains have developed to a point where we are so good at making little boxes that we have to go and find things to put in them.
I can understand that a name identifies a thing and that in one's quest to figure out who they are a label helps solidify a mental concept, but the fact of the matter is that a thing without a name is still the same thing it was before it was named 😉
I am glad that this gave you some comfort - now keep being the youest you that you can! 🙂
I like the word, and the description. If I must be put in a group, let it be this one.
Thanks Becca this really strikes a chord in me. I have found that ignoring or denying either side of my personality only leads to me becoming miserable.
I have identified as bi-gender for a few years now and for me the term helps to articulate my internal feelings. I don't really regard it as a label, i.e. something stuck on me by others, but as a shorthand way of expressing the very complex things that are going on inside.
As i have said many times before, I am always me no matter how I am dressed, I don't have personas, I don't think of the other "me" in the third person. I can think about typically male things when presenting female and I can buy flowers and lipstick when presenting male.
Hi Rebecca,
I myself don't think we should all be labelled, I think the only label we should have is my name IS , please put your own name here,
Labels are for clothes not people, shoes go in boxes not people,
This is only my opinion, I respect other people's opinions, we are what we are, I'm a man who likes wearing a dress now and again there's nothing wrong with that,
Hugs Rozalyn X 🤗
The only feminine thing about me is how I often present. I prefer , in the most part, to dress in female clothing. Around the house I'm usually in a skirt and a top. If I'm going out, I try to present as a female. Hair, make up, jewellery, perfume etc, but I do not change how I act. I never feel feminine. I don't change persona. I'm always the same me however I look.
In guess that I'm a crossdresser. 🙂
Cerys