Bending the Binary

Abstract

Friend: “Are you going to the Gender Bender Dance?” Me: “I think so. I probably won’t dress up though; I figure I already bend gender enough every day.” Friend: “What do you mean? Like you’re not feminine?” Me: “Yeah!” Friend: “No, Chelsea! Of course you are!” Wait, what? I understand that this person meant no harm; if anything, my friend probably interpreted my remark as a self-deprecating comment uttered with the hopes that someone would reassure my femininity. But nothing could be further from the truth