Just because you say things doesn't mean they're true. You're not trans. Just because your internalized misogyny makes you want to reject the gender hierarchy by using they/them pronouns and a slightly-edgy boy name doesn't mean you're trans. How can you call yourself a writer and a feminist when you lack any sort of serious self-reflection on how the system has constructed your patchworked identity?
Oh anon, sweetie, you chose the wrong person to send this shit too.
I’m not answering this for your benefit. I don’t owe you an explanation for who I am. I’m answering in case doing so helps make other trans folks who get similar messages or in case it educates someone else.
I’ve spent a lot of time questioning my identity. 20 years of figuring myself out, then 8 months of growing into myself, figuring it out - and yes, writing and talking about my identity in great detail. I guarantee that I’ve done more self-reflection than you EVER have.
I know exactly who I am now. I am a proud nonbinary person. Not because of any stereotypes about what boys and girls should be like but because it’s who I am, right down to my bones. It doesn’t matter how masculine or feminine or androgynous I present, it doesn’t change who I am. Just as you changing your clothes doesn’t change your gender.
I don’t have internalised misogyny. Not anymore - I did growing up. I hated pink, I hated make up, I hated skirts, anything associated with little girls. And I made fun of girls who did like those things. As a teenager, I was “not like other girls” I thought I was cooler and funnier because I was friends with the boys.
But all of that was complete bullshit. Of course it was - there’s nothing wrong with being a girly girl. I clung to that and was so dismissive of feminity because feminity made me uncomfortable, it caused me dysphoria. I didn’t know that then but I do now.
I’m not nonbinary because of internalised misogyny. In fact, I unlearned that misogyny by accepting myself as I am (a nonbinary person). When I figured out my identity I could stop punishing myself and hating myself for the feminity I showed because I learned to accept myself. And that meant I could stop hating the feminity I saw in others too.
I love girls. I love masculine girls and feminine girls and androgynous girls and all kinds of girls. They’re smart and funny and cool and brilliant. My best friends and some of my biggest role models are girls and they can do anything they put their mind to.
I’m just not one 🤷♂️ I can’t help that.
My identity as a nonbinary person isn’t patchworked from the patriarchy and it’s not about rejecting womanhood. It’s who I am. It’s home. It’s a part of me right down to my roots (and I promise you the patriarchy does not think of nonbinary people as allies lmao).
Also Theo isn’t a boy’s name. It’s MY name.
And indeed, Theo is a unisex name (yes there are girls named Theo!) It could be short for Theodore or Theodora. But it’s funny how you assume that masculine is default isn’t it?? Almost as if… You have some internalised misogyny of your own?
If you come back in my inbox you will be blocked. Bye bye now!