Society is starting to become more educated on the concept of gender, but there is still a long way to go. People are just beginning to understand that gender is a spectrum, which means that every person is completely unique.
As we go through life, we gain new experiences and learn new things about ourselves and the world around us. If we don’t change amidst these changes, we may begin to feel stuck. Within the lens of heteronormativity, this can be seen in how society expects people to look and behave in a certain way. In response, we may choose to reflect those standards in order to fit in or conform to the world around us, regardless of who we actually are.
Performing gender and sexuality in this way is restrictive, and it makes me wonder what the world would look like if we were all allowed to just live, free of labels and stereotypes. Fluidity provides a sense of flexibility that gives people the room to exist in the way that is best for them in a given moment. As we change over time, maybe one label doesn’t fit us in the same way that it used to, and that’s okay. Society tells us that we must choose one and stick with it forever, but that is not the way that people work. We grow and change over time and allowing yourself to do so will be beneficial.
Changing your mind is something that is often seen as weak or doubtful, yet it is actually a healthy process that everyone experiences to differing degrees. The fluidity of gender and sexuality demonstrates how we behave according to the expectations placed upon us, and how we grow to find our own versions of authenticity. Living publicly shouldn’t be about living for the people who see us, but rather about living for ourselves openly and comfortably.
