Sexuality and gender are major things in today’s society, and most are accepting of it. Whilst yes there are a number of people who are disrespectful, the majority of society is understanding towards those who don’t identify as their birth sex, and that people can love whoever. But I still believe that there is a gap in society surrounding the acceptance of gender neutrality and fluidity. I do think there is still a lack of understanding towards many people who do identify differently to their birth sex, and here are some things that I believe would be beneficial in everyday life for people who do feel uncomfortable with these things.
1) More gender-neutral bathrooms
With the separation of male and female bathrooms in most places, it could be seen as almost taking validity away from those who are gender neutral or fluid. A person who may not identify as male but is physically male is forced to use the gendered bathrooms when out in public because of this divide. Therefore, this may make this person feel socially unaccepted because their choice is taken away; they can’t feel free to make that choice. I don’t see why there should be such a divide about this as it is simple enough to just have separate stalls with all the facilities needed in, as some places have already done.
2) Taking the idea of gender away from clothing options
TikTok user @pauliessupersiblings
As a society, we should be past the point where we sit there and say that a guy can’t wear a skirt or normalising a woman in a suit. Clothing is just there to cover the body, so why should it matter what people choose? Same with makeup – if a man wants to wear makeup, go for it! It should be what makes someone comfortable in their own skin, what makes someone feel happy. I don’t see the big deal honestly. It honestly makes me so happy with trends I’ve seen on TikTok of boys wearing skirts and this one family buying their young son Disney princess dresses.
3) Normalise the use of the word partner
Ever since we are kids, parents and carers would turn round to us and ask about boyfriends and girlfriends, which may make the idea of coming out as part of the LGBTQ+ community more daunting for some people. By normalising the idea of non-gendering, a relationship title from a younger age, it may cause more comfort with the child in the future if they want to come out as they can see it’s accepted for them to have that choice from the start.
4) Stop stereotyping colours to genders
From gender reveals of babies, the idea of pink is only for girls and blue is only for boys is engraved in people’s heads. Its to the point where if a boy was seen wearing anything pink, people would turn round in school and say that they must be gay. I’m not saying that gender reveals are offensive, all I’m saying is it needs to stop being engraved in people’s heads from a young age that a colour means something bigger than it just being a colour.
5) Educate children on these things
I believe that from the moment children start to learn sex education, they should be taught about the basics of LGBTQ+ as well and be told it’s okay to love whoever you want. It’s okay if you don’t feel like you are the sex you are born as and that some people go by different pronouns like they/them. By letting children know that it’s okay, it makes it less daunting for them as they grow up. But they should also be open to the fact that they don’t have to put labels on at any point, they can make those decisions in their own time about their sexuality and gender.
Although we have come quite far as a society with the acceptance, we still do have steps that we do need to take. These are just a few of the ones that I think would be beneficial to make a start, and I think a lot revolves around the education of people around us and preventing stereotyping from taking place. Stop categorising into male and female, keep it open.
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