Okay so, as a trans person, I've actually always personally disliked 'trans headcanons’. Like, if people want to do that, all the power to them. I understand that it can help people to connect their struggles to a favorite character. I just don't get anything from it and for me it just doesn't make sense since being trans shouldn't change anything about a character besides what's in their pants, and even that is optional.
However, I've been thinking about Zuko and Aang a lot and I've realized two things.
Zuko's journey throughout the series could actually almost seamlessly contain a trans journey.
Aang's arc as the avatar is a great allegory for the trans journey.
Hear me out.
Zuko
Zuko starting out trying to force himself into a role and certain personality? Could totally connect that with also trying to fit in a certain gender role, like, as a trans man, being a ruthless princess like Azula. I mean, come on, he already compares himself to her.
And then the symbolic cutting of the hair? That can totally be a trans man moment. And, having a buzz cut now, the earth kingdom citizens assume him a man, and Zuko's like, I'll stick with this since we're supposed to be undercover.
Him in Ba Sing Se? Learning to be comfortable and then happy in this life disconnected from his role? Could absolutely have some time to come to terms with actually being a man and not just a woman undercover as a man.
And then he has a chance to go back home but, of course, to do that he has to go back to that role and bam, typical second wave of doubt in the trans journey.
He realizes just how much he really doesn't fit that role. Both as a part of the Fire Nation cruelty, and as a princess, and he goes to his dad like, “fuck you, I'm not a princess, I'm not even a girl, I'm gonna go help the avatar and then come back and take your place as fire lord”
And then he goes to the gaang who just thought he was a cis man this whole time jsndnsnd.
Like, you could so easily give him a trans arc without forcing anything into the series. It'd go right along with everything.
Aang
With Aang, it's not the same. Trying to add a trans arc to his story would be adding in stuff. It wouldn't just seamlessly blend in, it'd stand out. BUT fuck if the arc of accepting his place as the avatar isn't a great trans metaphor.
He reaches the age of 12 (the start of puberty) and realizes he's different. Starts experiencing a disconnect with those who should be his peers. Fears being seperated from a parental figure. All very classic, starting to realize you're trans things.
He comes out of the iceberg and straight up denies being the avatar because he doesn't want to be and worries they may treat him different, but eventually admits it and starts the process of trying to grow into this role.
That's how it starts. You realize you're trans, you hide the trans, but that never works and eventually you have to admit it and start transitioning even if it's scary.
Then, the constant doubt he has as the avatar? Transitioning can feel like two steps forward one step back where there's recurring doubts of 'can I actually do this?’
He often seeks counsel from spirits and even past avatars but their advice is often only partially helpful because, ultimately, they lived in a different world and time. Every avatar's experience is different. They don't know exactly what it's like for Aang and can only give the best advice they know from their experience, which is very reminiscent of trying to talk to older trans people.
But Aang throughout the series more and more becomes a fully fledged avatar and owns it.
And then the end where Aang realizes being everything the world expects of him isn't true to himself. He learns to combine being the avatar with still being himself, that those two things go hand in hand. Knowing he doesn't need to be or do what the world says an avatar should be or do.
It's very reminiscent of the common post-transition struggle of realizing all the trans stereotypes don't all fit you. The world telling you what being trans should look like and learning that being trans looks like whatever you are because you define what it is. Aang decides what being the avatar means.
Obviously this is heavily influenced by my own experience, but you can definitely draw the parallels there.
I still wouldn't headcanon either of them as trans. I just think it's interesting how similar their journeys are to trans experiences.
