My Biggest Pet Peeve is 'Gender'

This is something I really want to get off my chest because I'm getting a bit irritated over some of the questions and criticisms I've gotten from people--my family, classmates, friends, etc.

A lot of my friends know this--online and offline--but my biggest pet peeve is about "gender". Not just about 'gender differences' but also 'androgyny' and what people claim as "gender-specific" anatomy.

The top on my list is on 'androgyny'. Mainly when it's preteens~teens are claiming themselves as 'androgynous'. I honestly don't believe that they have the right to say so when they are still having their hormones raging in their bodies. It doesn't work that way because you should at least have your hormones settle before saying anything. Like.... Okay, I do understand that they are children and all, and that it's currently "in", but.... it's a bit distressful since it's like they're not allowing themselves to grow.

Although, despite this, I'm partial and understanding to those that identify themselves as the opposite gender. This is usually what happens in the latter stages of the hormone-raging, so I'm fine with it. But.... I really don't like it when this happens when people choose the opposite gender because of their boyfriend/girlfriend. Why do you need to do that? Why do you need to claim the opposite gender for your other? Just to 'fit the role'? It's really confusing when children do this because it's like 'changing genders is like changing clothes'. No, it is not!

A person should understand that androgyny isn't a 'phase' but a part of an 'identity'. Those who are androgynous, gender-neutral, trigendered, transgendered, or similar are the minority of the minority within the LGBT communities. It's not a game because it's a life of constant questions and doubt. There are people who wish they could change their genders so easily, but they go through great pains just to reach their goal--like those in the MtF and FtM communities.

I understand about being gender-distressed and all (I have been there), but all those that I have met seem to be doing it for the sake of 'being cool' or 'it's like trolling'. No! Please stop. It's a real pain because there are kids who are indeed gender-distressed and it certainly causes problems for them because they wouldn't know who to turn to. Being a minority isn't that great, but it feels even worse when you feel like you've been betrayed because someone was simply 'playing around' when you thought you could trust them. It really isn't something that should be taken lightly.

Although, I feel like the opposite should be said for human anatomy. Does anatomy need to be judged so harshly---especially when it's about body types. People in general are different from each other, so it doesn't mean that they need to always stick to 'the general body types'. For example, Caucasians have longer legs and small torsos in comparison to Asians that have short legs and long torsos. Then, amongst all, you have the 'gender-specific body types'---women have prominent hips and men have prominent shoulders. All I can say is that is the general idea.

You don't see if often--mainly because it doesn't fit the 'ideal' body-type--but there are men who have hips wider than their shoulders and women whose shoulders are broader than their hips. We've seen 'manly women' and 'fem-men' but has that ever crossed the mind when staring at anatomy? 'Girls can't look that man-ish!' 'Boys shouldn't have hips like that' 'That better be a man because that's one ugly girl'---these are comments that I've seen/heard about cosplayers and art alike. I don't really see that happen because the person that's criticizing usually believes 'I am right, this is wrong'.

Yeah, I'm one of those 'art style doesn't need to apply to anatomy', but that doesn't mean I don't study anatomy. Nor am I ashamed of it. I show my cousins and friends my sketches/roughs for advising or tips--whether or not they can tell the gender--on the anatomy. I don't get judged for doodling fem-men nor manly women, because--essentially--all humans are the same. We all have feelings & opinions, thoughts & actions, wants & needs---it's these that make us such interesting (and cruel) creatures on this planet.

Yeah, I'm one of those human beings
It's true that I'm trigendered
And, yes, this is how I feel about 'gender' in life and in art

I. Am. Done.
So, good day to you all