TITLE: His and Hers

AUTHOR: Cristiana Wilcoxon and Brynn Nelson (Goes by Charles Doyle)

CATEGORY: Sexuality

AUTHOR COMMENTARY:

This piece deals with the process of questioning gender identity. Our society operates within a gender binary of male/female, but not everyone feels strictly defined as one or the other. Some individuals see themselves as existing at a middle point between genders, while others find themselves transitioning through this space from one gender to another. As we start to question what gender means and the respective definitions of what constitutes a man or a woman, our previously static ideas of gender become more fluid. However, this also engenders chaos, both inside and outside of the mind. What does it really mean to change your gender? Is it simply a modification of outward expression and presentation, or is it a shift in the way we order ourselves with the rest of the world? What would happen to our society if a greater number of people opted out of identifying as male or female? Would it be better if we stopped viewing each other in the context of a gender or would it be more confusing? This photograph doesn’t offer any answers, it just depicts one individual’s attempt at answering these questions and the dissonance that comes with exploring a multi-faceted self.

ENTRY:

AUTHOR BIO:

Cristiana took her first photograph when she was eight and hasn’t put down a camera since. She writes and photographs for 7DeadlyMag, an Orange-County based online publication for the college academic. She enjoys improv comedy, blogging for foodbeast.com, and reading Batman-related graphic novels.

Charles Doyle is a Southern Californian Drag King who enjoys roller-skating and watching French films. Xe appreciates the finer things in life: cruises, tattoos, and chocolate soufflés . Xyr highest ambition in life is to own a platypus.