Non Binary - Member Profile Option

[helen2010]

Now that our forum has been renamed as non binary from androgyne it occurred to me that it may make sense to either rename or to provide additional member profile options on Susans.   As TG I think that how we define and express ourselves is important.  Not being able to choose an appropriate option is unhelpful.

At this stage, when choosing among the current options, I fluctuate between 2 options -  Androgyne or Queer.   At times I also think about selecting the Questioning option.

At a time when most folk see gender identity as defined at the individual level  I wonder whether it may be time to review/change the available profile options.  For simplicity I wonder whether there is support for a change.

Five options may be:

1.   Simply replacing the Androgyne option with Non-Binary.   This would be the most simple and logical decision as it would better align forum taxonomy with profile options

2.    Add a non binary option

3.    Add a user defined field - each member could choose the gender description (3 words or less) that they identify with

4.     Under a new Non-Binary option add a further field.  This would allow a non binary to add descriptors like queer, fluid, questioning, androgynous, neutrois etc. it may also provide Susans with a better feel for its family, it's dynamics etc

5.      Nil change

I think that options 1 through 4 make sense and would be an improvement

What do you think?

Aisla

[Satinjoy]

If you look at my pic, there is descriptive language, for I am a real mix.   It works well for me.
Having the piece at the bottom does too.  The signature that caries from reply to reply at the bottom of the post.

I grabbed all the components, being an mtf transsexual, Q for gender queer, identifying as non binary and clarifying that further as gender fluid.  The only thing I am not, is and androgyne as I understand it.

An NB selection could be cool.

I'm just glad we had a little space to be descriptive.  That does work for me, but the primary identifier is usually in the little box, and we have A or Q.  NB is two letters and will mess it up.

So I don't know.  Since by nature androgynes don't like boxes, Pica Pica did a nice thread on that once, the more text we have the better.  But some of us like to write volumes and will try to, (me, we know this).

What we have works ok for me, I'd love anonother little line of text on it.

The other questions is the purpose of the descriptions.

Why do we feel that need to self identify... I do... I think its the opportunity to state my true identity for all the world to see, totally unmasked.

Thanks for starting the thread and all you do for the forum Aisla.

[Cindy]

I'm completely open to the idea.
Tell me what you would like.

The personal descriptive area has limitations on what is available but forum titles are easily modified.

Let people discuss this

[helen2010]

Cindy

Many thanks for this.   SJ, perhaps replacing Androgyne with Non-Binary is the simplest and most effective option, given the opportunity for further definition and description after the signature

Aisla

[Cindy]

I would like comment from people who prefer (?) androgyne as well.

I need more discussion so as not to hurt people with changes.

[helen2010]

Cindy

Look forward to other points of view. Suspect there may be a similar weight towards non binary ve androgyne as there was when the forum was renamed.  Most common view then was that non binary was more the current and more inclusive descriptor, but the great thing about Susan's is that we each bring very different and equally valuable perspectives

Aisla

[EchelonHunt]

Would it be rude of me to present my modified options for Susans? Mainly because I included a Non-Binary option!



Left to Right: Female, Male, Intersex, Androgyne, Non-Binary and Questioning.

I kept Androgyne because I felt there may be Androgynes who prefer the A label over the NB label.

I also did some options for sexuality should it ever become an option - which I thought would be helpful but I understand if people don't want to disclose that.



Left to Right: Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual, Pansexual and Asexual

[helen2010]

Echelon

Certainly. Never rude to share and always welcome.  Would you include queer, fluid or androgynous ( slightly different spin to androgyne?

Aisla

[ativan]

I'm completely open to the idea.
Tell me what you would like.
The personal descriptive area has limitations on what is available but forum titles are easily modified.

Thank you, Cindy.
What are the limitations? I'm assuming the number that can be used?
I don't feel a need to use one myself, don't really know what I would choose even given more or different choices.
But the name change does bring this up. I think it does need modification, but I have nothing to add, myself.
This is worth at least a few weeks discussion I would think, even if it slows down.
Not everyone stops by here on a regular basis and that shouldn't keep them out of the discussion.
But given the difficulties and past discussions of this nature, let's keep this from becoming an argument about what the definitions are.
If you have to, let it be descriptive and not a description/definition, just to be fair to others as well as yourselves.
Ativan

[EchelonHunt]

Would you include queer, fluid or androgynous ( slightly different spin to androgyne?

Personally, I wouldn't include it since Non-Binary is an umbrella term for those identities. In my instance, I identify as agender but would rather use Non-Binary since it doesn't feel as restrictive. If I really wanted to, I would pick NB as an option and put agender in my signature

However, if others would like to have the option available, it's their choice.

Wouldn't it be neat to have a second category within Non-Binary - with all the possible identities underneath it. You could pick Non-Binary and not classify a specific identity but if you picked a specific identity such as agender, genderqueer, genderfluid, androgyne, androgynous, it could come up in text when you hover over the NB option on the forums instead of the standard "Non-Binary" text.

Did that make sense?     

[luna nyan]

I've left my gender marker blank and just noted my status in my profile.

[Bimmer Guy]

I think adding non-binary is a good option. 

I identify as a Transguy.  The way I handled this was to just not choose a Gender and just write "Transguy" in the "personal text".  This is what non-binary defined people could do, if they don't make it a gender option.  My point is that you can get across your identity in your avatar even with the current system in place.

[VeronicaLynn]

I actually like my A, it was quite a big deal for me to change it from the F I had when I first joined Susans. I don't consider myself Androgyne though I am Androgynous and that's way I want to present. Though labels are stupid in so many ways, they mean something important to some people, and I don't know that removing A from the list would be a good idea. I would personally change my A to V for veronicagirl though, if that were an option

[helen2010]

Good posts - good suggestions.  As a result I have changed my profile and feel pretty good about it.

I decided to use the Personal Text line to describe gender as non binary and included MTA as a descriptor.  I chose not to use one of the standard gender options as I didn't feel that they allowed me to express my gender identity and were almost misleading.

Seems to work well unless at the Community level, Susans sees benefit in tracking changing demographics, activity levels etc in which case a compulsory gender field would be helpful in terms of supporting web site analytics.

Aisla

[Shantel]

I actually like my A, it was quite a big deal for me to change it from the F I had when I first joined Susans. I don't consider myself Androgyne though I am Androgynous and that's way I want to present. Though labels are stupid in so many ways, they mean something important to some people, and I don't know that removing A from the list would be a good idea. I would personally change my A to V for veronicagirl though, if that were an option

I'm beginning to like you Veronica Lynn, we seem to agree on a lot of levels. On the advise of my dear spouse I'll keep the "A" as she says that it aptly describes me, although I know she's not thinking Androgyne. 

[Sarah84]

I think that it would be good to add Non-binary. I removed my gender marker because I can't fully identify with Q or A (in the way I understand it). I am going MtF way physically but my gender identity is mixed and I guess that non binary is more accurate term for me...

[luna nyan]

I'm beginning to like you Veronica Lynn, we seem to agree on a lot of levels. On the advise of my dear spouse I'll keep the "A" as she says that it aptly describes me, although I know she's not thinking Androgyne. 

Hahaahah,

A what?  An a...

SOs have the best terms for describing us sometimes... 

[helen2010]

Luna Nyan/Shantel

While I think that the term non binary is more contemporary and inclusive than androgyne,  that is only an opinion.  The issue with names is that there are often as many different definitions of the same term or name, as there are folk in the room.  Picking a label, a name or declaring an identity is very personal and very important.  Given this, I am not sure that should "do a Facebook" here, and have multiple classifications and definitions.  The free text works well if the existing choices don't fit, as each person has the opportunity to author their text and therefore to derive or denote meaning as it occurs to them.

Aisla

[Cindy]

I certainly don't wish to be negative or restrictive, but I also don't want to keep changing profile names.

Maybe Aisla's suggestion of using free text is the way to go.

But as ever keep talking until a majority decision is arrived at, but remember majority decisions can and will exclude a minority.

[Shantel]

Luna Nyan/Shantel

While I think that the term non binary is more contemporary and inclusive than androgyne,  that is only an opinion.  The issue with names is that there are often as many different definitions of the same term or name, as there are folk in the room.  Picking a label, a name or declaring an identity is very personal and very important.  Given this, I am not sure that should "do a Facebook" here, and have multiple classifications and definitions.  The free text works well if the existing choices don't fit, as each person has the opportunity to author their text and therefore to derive or denote meaning as it occurs to them.

Aisla

This really makes the most sense!