When: Annually, May 19.
May 19 it’s Agender Pride Day to raise awareness for the agender identity. The day has been around since 2017.
Categorization
Agender is an identity that belongs in the category of non-binary gender identities. This includes gender identities such as bigender, demigender, pangender and all gender identities that fall outside the mainstream gender spectrum (xenogender).
Linking gender identity to agender isn’t right, because in this case it’s precisely about persons whose identity is not there. One might say that it’s precisely about no gender or genderless(ish). It doesn’t mean that there’s no identifcation based on gender (feminine or masculine). Remember, this is different for each person. In other situations it’s all about ruling out gender or rejecting gender. One may also find the importance of gender or gender identity personally irrelevant.
Not based on trends
Don’t think it is something based on trends or hype. This is reality. Let’s take a look at an example from 2017 when a judge in Oregon (US) granted a person the right to go through life without gender. Remember, this is not the same as a non-binary person. It is also different from, say, gender fluidity. You can read more about this in this article from NBC News.
"Ungendered person"
Again, not based on trends. It’s not even the first mention of agender. Let’s take a moment to go back further in time. In 1997 the International Journal of Transgenderism (apologies for using the latter, outdated term) stated that it was also possible that a person was an “ungendered person.” In other words: a person without a gender.
Indeed, this all may sound like like non-binarity. The difference is only that it follows a very strict rejection of gender. Not because one would want it that way. No, gender identity has nothing to do with wanting. Now let’s get rid of that once and for all. It is not a matter of choosing a flavour. Gender identity is not the same as buying a sandwich at the bakery.
Still not completely convinced? Fine, then let’s go a little further. In the book Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender College Students: A Handbook for Faculty and Administrators there is an entry on what you may now describe as agender. Only that was something described as “ungendered. The only problem is: that the book is not free to read. You have to pay for it, as you can see here.
UseNet
If this (archived) website is to be believed, the term itself, i.e. agender, is said to have originated around the year 2000 via UseNet. Interestingly, the term originated in a discussion about religion. The article does mention the Oxford Dictionary.
Formally, we talk about an identity and this belongs scientifically under the umbrella of transgender. After all, transgender is about a gender identity that differs from one’s birth sex. This shows that it is therefore not always about medical interventions. However, the problem lies in incorporating the agender identity. Thus, when you apply a more philosophical approach, gender does not exist. Indeed, the word can be found online. Something you cannot say, by the way, about our “own” dictionary, the Dikke van Dale. In it, this word cannot be found.
Oxford Dictionary
What’s in the Oxford Dictionary?
Designating a person who does not identify as belonging to a particular gender; of or relating to such people.
Tank Girl
Let’s, take a moment to dive into an article of 1996, based on the Oxford English Dictionary. This word has been in the dictionary since 1996. If you click through on the entry (source), you will see what the first entry is for the word. The mention and the article raise questions. Take a look at the 1996 article by The Independent. It was about how the beer industry held certain stereotypes. In this case, a-gender was someone akin to the 1995 film Tank Girl. Indeed, one described the person in question as Tank girl meets new man –androgynous and proud.
So is an agender person a tank girl? At the time, that is. At least according to the makers of the beer or newspaper. The Oxford Dictionary counted the first entry in this case, although that was not quite the correct one. One used a hyphen. A knee-jerk reaction to that, of course.
The second entry then. That one is indeed about the UseNet entry and it is a lot harder to verify. Let’s just assume it was made. There are so many sources writing about it. Although it is clear that the date was not 2000, but 2005.
New York Times
A clearer story is when it comes to The New York Times’ entry. That one dates from 9 January 2013 and is entitled Generation LGBTQIA. Let’s not question why the editors chose this title, right?
The article reflects the text that the online dictionary also mentions:
Britt’s grunginess belies a warm matter-of-factness, at least when describing her journey. As she elaborated afterward, she first heard the term “bi-gender” from Kate, who found it on Tumblr. The two met at freshman orientation and bonded. In high school, Kate identified as “agender” and used the singular pronoun “they”; she now sees her gender as an “amorphous blob.”
No trend, no hype
Finally, then, the entry from the book “Trans/Portraits: Voices from the Transgender Communities” by author Jackson Wright Schulz. Read along at page 73. This book was published in 2015 and this text is also invoked as an example on the Oxford English Dictionary page. All these examples show that it is therefore not a trend or hype. There is a history going back to the 1990s. That there has been regular writing and publishing on the subject since then and that it is not tied to mediocre/unreliable sources. In addition, it shows that the word is important enough to be included in an English-language dictionary.
Nothing to do with sexual orientation
To end all misunderstandings. Agender has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Any attempt by people who attempt this or try to establish a relationship is based on either ignorance or false information. What all this is based on though: on what persons/people are. Who they are. This should be central to this day. This should be a day that teaches others about what it means and should make others aware. In addition, it is a day for agender persons to show who they are. They should be allowed to do that on other days too.
It’s just not a given. On other days, that opportunity is not always there. Even on a day like today, there will be resistance. Not everyone will welcome this day with open arms. We are still dealing with a world where hatred against what is considered “different” is high.
Human Rights
Today is a perfect time to reflect on all these issues. To think about the role agender persons deserve. That is the same role as any other person. It is, in fact, a human right.
More information
Interested to read more about this topic? Check out the information on Healthline.
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