Since the state transgender anti-discrimination law came into effect Oct. 1, I thought to myself, what better time to talk about gender neutrality than right now?
As millennials, we’re already pretty aware of the changing world in front of us: LGBT, women’s and minority rights movements are gaining momentum. And sure, politically speaking, these rights exist, but in terms of social and economic practice, this might not always be the case.
As I was sitting in class today, university professor Ian Lekus discussed the United States’ lack of recognition of a third gender: transgender. I knew in my mind, transgender, that’s the third gender. But it took me a minute to recognize it myself. The seminar got me thinking.
I recalled checking the “female” box on my job application this past week.
What does a transgender male or female do when it comes to this question? Identify as something different than he or she normally does? Does he or she have to pick “male” or “female?”
It’s empowering to state your identity, whether it be by gender, name, hobby or profession. Like when someone says, “I’m a strong independent woman!” or “I’m a grown-ass man!” or “Damn right I’m a trans woman!”
It’s crazy though, because we’re still lacking the advocacy necessary to empower these three gender identities on a neutralized level, with none being superior than the others but all having significance. When I use the word neutral, I’m using the term to suggest equality and fair representation without discrimination — on an emotional level for men, an economic level for women and a social level for transgender men and women.
So during my class today, I was thinking about Pokémon. I don’t know why. Well, I know why, but I was combining these two concepts — Gender neutrality and Pokémon — and this is what I’ve come up with.
People are like Eevee.
Eevee
Aren’t we adorable?
Eevee is considered a “normal” type. Normal means average. Not abnormal. Neutral. Of natural occurrence. Eevee is free from any elemental categorization. Do you see where I’m going with this?
Eevee’s Pokédex entry from FireRed describes him/her as “an extremely rare Pokémon that may evolve in a number of different ways depending on stimuli.”
Unlike most Pokémon, Eevee’s evolutions are not restricted. Eevee has a number of “Eeveelutions.” In fact, its name is derived from the seemingly limitless possibilities of E-V-lutions: Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Glaceon, Leafeon.
Whether you believe in nature or nurture, biology or psychology, both external and internal factors help shape our identities. We take on a number of different evolutions, but have the same beginning. Remember where you came from. Implement gender neutrality. We may all look different, but that’s normal.
At the end of the day, we all want to be the very best.
Queue Pokémon theme song.
