gender-bending
Defying identity norms
Gender-bending is the deliberate blurring or crossing of traditional gender boundaries in appearance, behavior, or expression.
The term often describes artistic or fashion choices that mix masculine and feminine elements: David Bowie's gender-bending style influenced a generation of musicians.
It can apply to fictional characters whose gender is ambiguous or fluid, or to anyone who challenges conventional gender presentation.
Neither distinctly male nor female
- crossdressingWearing another gender's clothing
- dragResistance through fluid
- unisexSuitable for any gender
- genderfluidVariable gender identity
power suit · heels · makeup · corset · binding · tucking · ballroom · voguing
Theatrical feminine performer
- drag kingFemale masculine stage performer
- impersonationPretending to be another
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
lip-sync · transformation · persona · RuPaul · pantomime dame · female impersonator · male impersonator · showgirl
Outside male-female categories
- genderfluidVariable gender identity
- agenderHaving no gender identity
- bigenderTwo-gender identity
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
transition · pronouns · they/them · expression · spectrum · fluidity · assigned · affirming
Undermining established authority
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- boundary-pushingExceeding accepted limits
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- BowieScottish family name
Grace Jones · Annie Lennox · Tilda Swinton · glam rock · punk · provocative · aesthetic · iconoclast
Identity-concealing alteration
- Twelfth NightFinal Yuletide evening
- MulanFolklore's female conscript
- TootsieChewy chocolate confection
- tropeRecurring narrative device
Mrs Doubtfire · masquerade · deception · reveal · comedy · Shakespeare · kabuki · opera
androgynous
Neither distinctly male nor female
- crossdressingWearing another gender's clothing
- dragResistance through fluid
- unisexSuitable for any gender
genderfluid · power suit · heels · makeup · corset · binding · tucking · ballroom · voguing · glamour
drag queen
Theatrical feminine performer
- drag kingFemale masculine stage performer
- impersonationPretending to be another
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
cabaret · lip-sync · transformation · persona · RuPaul · pantomime dame · female impersonator · male impersonator · showgirl · illusionist
nonbinary
Outside male-female categories
- genderfluidVariable gender identity
- agenderHaving no gender identity
- bigenderTwo-gender identity
questioning · transition · pronouns · they/them · expression · spectrum · fluidity · assigned · affirming · LGBTQ
subversion
Undermining established authority
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- boundary-pushingExceeding accepted limits
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
Bowie · Grace Jones · Annie Lennox · Tilda Swinton · glam rock · punk · provocative · aesthetic · iconoclast · reinvention
disguise
Identity-concealing alteration
- Twelfth NightFinal Yuletide evening
- MulanFolklore's female conscript
- TootsieChewy chocolate confection
Mrs Doubtfire · trope · masquerade · deception · reveal · comedy · Shakespeare · kabuki · opera · heroine
gender-bendingtraditional
Following long-held customs
conventional · heteronormative · straight-laced · orthodox · mainstream
gender-bendingbinary
Consisting of two parts
essentialist · dimorphic · rigid · fixed · traditionalist
gender, genders, gendered, gendering, genderless, genderqueer, transgender, cisgender, bend