Day 5: Sexuality & Gender
Describe how you think about your character’s sexuality and gender. How would they talk about their sexuality/sexual inclinations or lack thereof? What is their gender and why? Are they cis or nonbinary? If they are nonbinary, what is their designation and when did they realize it?
Well, as per my own headcanons [here], Togruta view gender differently than humans. It doesn’t make sense to me that an alien species would come to the exact same conclusions as humans when it comes to gender binary. In fact, even on our own planet the gender binary is a recent, and very western thing from my understanding, view of gender. Lots of cultures have third genders and more. But, we’re not here to talk about that specifically.
Anyway, for a basic summary, Togruta don’t identify with a gender binary but instead, as their culture is heavily influenced by nature, they identify with different parts of nature. Soil, plants, turu grass, trees, water, oceans, possibly even animals? The different identities are encouraged because, like nature, the Togruta need every part to come together and serve the group as a whole. The rains grow plants which they can use to create goods they need, trees are used for shelter, etc. Kihanda herself identifies as a tree. However, she was raised in a community that speaks Basic, which doesn’t allow for their cultural nuances and has a gender binary, so she often uses she/her and identifies female just to make things simple for herself.
Recognizing her identity was something that happened relatively early in her life. All Togruta are raised with the idea of identifying with an aspect of nature and it is something she carried with her even as she was taken to train as a Jedi. It felt natural to her to identify with trees because, in her culture, they are seen as safe harbor and providing protection as well as rooted and firm. It’s those connotations that she identifies with the most so it wasn’t hard for her to realize it.
Sexuality is... a headcanon I haven’t thought of much, but I imagine Kiha as attracted to anyone, regardless of how they identify. However, it’s also not something she indulges in a lot, being a Jedi and all.