First off, I'd like to say how amazing and supportive Erin Zelle is of her daughter coming out as gender fluid. Some parents might call it a phase and say their child will grow out of it or maybe even shun them because of the way they want to express themselves. Other parents might ignore it. However, Erin Zelle acknowledged and was supportive of her daughter dressing up in masculine clothing. I love hearing stories that involve someone coming out and the parents being supportive of their child's choices. Though we have progressed within the LGBTQ+ community, there are still some people out there who cannot accept others for who they are. This is heartbreaking to me considering it's not the person's fault that they were born that way.
There was a line in the article that said Erin had to google what gender fluid meant because she didn't know what it was. It's not her fault that she was unfamiliar with the term but this just proves that not a lot of people are aware of the different identities and sexual orientations there are. Some might think that the different identities are made up and pointless. However, that is not the case. Everyone feels a certain way and the way that they feel should be expressed in the manner that they choose. Whether it's by clothing, body type, hair style, etc.
One of my closest friends came out as gender fluid and even changed their name to fit their identity. Their family wasn't all for it but in time, they learned to accept it cause that's just who they were. As you can see, I'm using pronouns like "they/their" because that's how they identify as someone who is gender fluid. They do not identify as female or male but both.
The three quotes that I found that were most fitting with the article are:
"My 11-year-old daughter Sullivan's style is defined as gender fluid, which translates as a 'fluid' shift between masculine and feminine, depending on how one feels."
-I like how Zelle incorporated the definition into her piece. This is good exposure to people who are unfamiliar with the term.
"Not all girls wear pink and not all boys wear blue."
-Another great way to explain gender fluid. It really captivates the whole meaning.
"I remind myself that kids fear whats unfamiliar."
-Kids are not exposed to difficult topics like this because it may be hard to understand or too inappropriate to introduce to a them at a young age. Likewise, I believe parents should address and educate their children on the matter if they encounter someone who identifies as something else. I think it's highly important that everyone, not just children, are aware so they don't have to fear and criticize others.
Gender Fluidity - This link leads to a video created by the youtuber, Seadresa who identifies as gender fluid and explains what gender fluidity is. For those of you who would like to learn more about gender fluidity, I highly recommend this video.
i love all those quotes that you used. Those are the quotes that also stuck out to me.
ReplyDeleteSerena, I enjoyed reading your blog. I used some of the same quotes in my blog this week so it was interesting to see what you had to say about them. I also liked the video you shared. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThe quote that sticks out to me the most is "Not all girls wear pink and not all boys wear blue." I dislike the idea that people are constantly associating colors and toys with gender. Enjoyed the blog Serena, nice job!
ReplyDeleteIlike the video you posted with your blog. I gives insight to their perspective on themselves and helps to explain what it means to be gender fluid.
ReplyDeleteI love happy coming out stories, too! I remember when I came out to my mom. I was crying and worried that she would be mad, and all she said was "Okay. You feel better now that you told me? I don't care who you love, as long you aren't a jerk."
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