Gender Alignment

From LGBTQIA

Not to be confused with gender alignment in the context of transgender transitioning.

Gender Alignment is an individual's primary or partial connection or relation to a gender identity, without inferring that one is entirely or solely that gender identity.[1][2] It is a concept often used by (but not exclusive to) non-binary individuals to further describe one's gender identity.

For example, a man that has a connection to womanhood may refer to their gender identity as a woman-aligned man. Where an individual lacks a gender alignment, they may refer to their gender as unaligned.

Other examples of experiences that may be described as a gender alignment include:

  • an individual that identifies with a particular gendered social group or category;
  • an individual that presents as a particular gender;
  • an individual that is perceived by others as a particular gender;
  • an individual who experiences life or relationships similarly to that of a particular gender.[3]

YouTuber Stormy depicted the concept of gender alignment using vanilla flavored coffee as a metaphor. Ey defined coffee as the gender, such as man, woman, or other; and defined the vanilla flavoring as the alignment, such as masculine-aligned, xeno-aligned, or other. The masculine-alignment does not mean the gender itself is masculine, but only that it is related or connected to masculinity, as ey described it "This is not a vanilla bean, this is not a vanilla flower, it's coffee that is flavored like a vanilla bean".[2]

Resources

  1. Marshall, Kravitz. "Gender Identities and Terminology: An Abridged But Not-So-Basic Guide". Medium, 2 Feb, 2021, https://kravitzi.medium.com/gender-identities-and-terminology-an-abridged-but-not-so-basic-guide-d5ba7d2806fa.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Stormy Talks. "The Best Analogy for Gender Alignment". YouTube, 20 May, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmDNYkBV_VU.
  3. wedontcareaboutyourbinary. "-ASKED BY AHHTHEHORROR-DEACTIVATED2019070". Tumblr, https://archive.md/2022.09.05-174553/https://wedontcareaboutyourbinary.tumblr.com/post/169860045173/what-the-fuck-do-people-mean-by-male-aligned. Archived on 5 Sep, 2022.