The Gender Project is an ever-growing compilation of audio, images, videos, and writings that shine a spotlight on individuals who identify as transgender, gender fluid, bigender, identify as non-binary, or express their gender in other ways that are not often recognized, represented, or respected in our current society. This website began as a semester-long journalism project, it grew into my undergraduate senior thesis, and will continue to grow in size and diversity with more stories over the coming years.
While working with each person to create their story I started thinking more about gender identity and expression in an academic sense, in context with society, and on a personal level. As Kate Bornstein, the author, artist, and gender theorist wrote, "You can study gender until the cows come home. You can read all the books, interview all the transgendered* people, you can take courses in this stuff. But unless you actually do the work on a personal basis, you’re not going to understand the life of it.”[1] I realized I needed to write my own story as I came to accept that I do not fit nicely into the box female I so often am asked to check on medical forms and registrations. You can find that under Sofia.
This site aims to create more media representations of the lived experiences of individuals who identify as something other than cisgender. If you or someone you know is interested in participating please contact me, I am always looking for more folks who want to share their story.
[1] Bornstein, Kate. My Gender Workbook. Routledge. New York and London 1998. Pg. 19.