Man Or Woman? Androgynous Model Poses As Both To Challenge Gender Stereotypes
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Rūta Grašytė Community member
Meet Rain Dove – the androgynous model that walks the runway in both menswear and womenswear.
Not to be confused with the modern gender classifications, androgyny is an ancient term, describing a character or a person that has both masculine and feminine characteristics. And as with everything concerning unique looks, androgyny is the next big thing in the fashion industry – from male models looking quite feminine to female models looking quite masculine.
Though Rain didn’t always see herself as androgynous. Instead, she saw herself as an “ugly woman.” “I never had bad feelings about it; I just felt that maybe I was that one girl,” Dove told After Ellen. “It wasn’t until I was wilderness firefighter for a while and that’s when I felt more empowered in my ambiguity and sexuality as far as gender presentation goes.”
Quite frequently, people assume Rain is male, but she doesn’t correct them. Instead, Rain takes advantage of these “misunderstandings.” “When I was a firefighter they thought I was a male and I went with it because I really need a job and I was out in the middle of nowhere in Colorado,” she said. “So I utilized my gender-bending profile as something that had gotten me a bunch of odd jobs from nannying to the landscape.” And that’s when it all started… Now, Rain Dove is an activist, she is pursuing acting, and she is the runway model that turns heads in menswear, womenswear, and fashion photography. “We’re all struggling to be unique, and the unique thing you can be is yourself,” Rain told Buzzfeed. “The gender thing doesn’t exist; it’s a social construct you don’t have to fit into. Some people love you; some people will love you. Some people accept you, and I’m one of them.”
More info: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (h/t: afterellen)
Meet Rain Dove – the androgynous model who is trying to break gender stereotypes
Though Rain didn’t always see herself as androgynous, she saw herself as an “ugly women”
“I never had bad feelings about it, I just felt that maybe I was that one girl,” Dove said
“It wasn’t until I was wilderness firefighter for a while and that’s when I felt more empowered in my ambiguity and sexuality as far as gender presentation goes.”
Quite frequently, people assume Rain is male, but she doesn’t correct them
“When I was a firefighter they thought I was a male”
“And I went with it because I really need a job and I was out in the middle of nowhere in Colorado”
Now, Rain Dove is an activist
She is the model that turns heads on the runway in both menswear and womenswear
“We’re all struggling to be unique”
“And the most unique thing you can be is yourself”
“The gender thing doesn’t exist”
“It’s a social construct you don’t have to fit into”
“There are people who love you”
“There are people who will love you”
“There are people who accept you”
“And I’m one of them”
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Actually I don't really think in genders. But I notice I keep thinking about it because people keep emphasizing on "It's normal/ok to be different! It's normal/ok to be different!" Same as when you keep telling your innocent/pure 3 year old child "It's ok to play with your neighbour's child even though he's black/Asian/African or whatever." Then he will start to think about it. Oh is it ok? or was or should be a problem or special? Even though normally he would just play. WE MAKE it a BIG deal and important. Don't fix a problem in a place there isnt. Th eonly thing you do then is create one. ALOT of people don't understand this or just want attention/money. imo if you really want to change something then speak up when the situation arises when it's needed for example when people discriminate. Start handling specific needed situations/people who offend other and stop obesessively publicly broadcasting how important this is or racism. It's like shooting with a shotgun at 3 targets.
Omg . This is exactly it. Thank you
There, someone finally said it. Thank you, Captain.
"don't fix a problem in a place there isnt" what do you mean gender issues/inequality was not a problem in the past???
Exactly. It shouldn't come to mind that the kid he's playing with is Asian or black. He's just PLAYING, like how a kid should be
so because she looks like a man, gender doesn't exist? people get stupider every day.
"she looks like a man" this is what she's trying to get rid of! Who decided that this is the look of a man? This can be the look of a woman and a man.
Bunnies, from where did you get this? That she has a medical condition?
Just google for "east german women athletes" pictures, then you will see more girls like her do exist.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Zorrito, Rain Dove has a medical condition that makes her have both male and female features. many of the east german athletes look that way because of doping. There is a big difference between the two.
I don't think that's the message here. Sex exists obviously, you can be born female, male or androgenous (if you have a sex defect or something). But gender is purely social construct, where males need to act and dress a certain way and woman another way. What she stands for is that she is a woman, but that shouldn't stop her from dressing, acting or having a hairstyle that we often associate with men. Nor should she be judged or made fun of. And the same should go for men who, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to dress like, act like and have hairstyles that we often associate with women.
Hello lovely Li, thank you ever so much for your very kind message. How dare people make such awful commints on how one looks or is. Thank God that there are people such as you, Li, in this sad world. God Bless you
When I google Gender it says sex is a synonym, so it can be used in a biological sense and is not necessarily just a social construct. I agree with the rest about treating them decently, just like anyone else.
yes, there is this social construction called "gender", but it's just an illusion created by the society. There is nothing that says woman have to wear pjnk and men are strong. That's all bullshit. Gender is not real. Read "Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler!
I recommend to read "Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler, then you will understand these photos.
Gender is a social construction. There are more than just male and female. There are intersex people, non binary, queer etc... I think heis work is very interesting. I love some of these photos. I think S-he is beautiful.
They identify as androgynous, meaning basically no gender. They look neither male nor female, but a mix between the two. Sexuality is what you identify as, not what you look like.
Please nobody shoot me, but I have to say that I agree. Gender definitely exists. We can't really choose our physical gender. We are born the way we are. Sometimes that looks like masculine looking woman or a more feminine man. As much as we'd like to choose our gender, that's just not completely possible.
The point is that what you are describing is sex not gender. You are born with a sex; male, female, androgens(someone with a sex defect). Gender is a social construct. You are entitled to your opinion i just wanted to make sure you understood what people were trying to say.
Sex is what you're born as, gender is what you identify as.
stop
I belief gender does influence the way someone is, just not enough to prescribe them entire roles in society.
Do you mean "I believe".
Nope, the stupid one is you.. Gender != Sex
then why when I google gender it says sex in a synonym? So Gender can = sex.
Scary thing is, more & more people are getting stupider & becoming brainwashed by the media.
I dont understand you...?
Have you any idea how hard it is to be different? For instance, you don't spell or know grammar. Should we put you down in flames? Remember, treat others as you would treat yourself. No one is perfect.
*more stupid
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I'm 100% in agreement with you. There are 2 genders; male or female. That's a fact. It is not about seeing a beauty in this post like Madison Unger said. It is just a simple fact. Biologically speaking, this is an abnormal situation for a human. I have no problems with people being born this way nor feels different within themselves. You can be a male who feels like a female or vice versa. This doesn't change the fact that there are 2 genders for humans as a species. That's the end of it. How you feel or think about this subject doesn't change the fact. By the way, I didn't notice penis. It looks like (s)he has more of a woman body than male body.
If you truly believe what you said about there only being 2 genders then you need to fix your post. SHE is a SHE not a "(s)he" because her as you say gender, but is actually sex is female. The sex she was born with is female. She identities as a female because she IS a female. The is no parentheses around the S because SHE is NOT a he. She simply was born with what stereotypical male features look like. That still does not change, how as you would say scientifically speaking, that she is a SHE and is a Female based on your definion of what gender is. There is no penis because she is female and SHE has a female body because she was born FEMALE.
Actually Biologically there is three genders in Humans. Male, Female and the rarest of gender Hermaphrodite. I agree with the rest . and that people can be a different gender mentally (their soul) some people even can feel both. and some people maybe even feel non. I'm just a big believer in that people just need to be who they want to be and who they feel they are. everyone is living their own journey/path in life . conform to your own standards and don't push them on others. live and let Live. (I don't take this article as her saying there's no gender but more of a insight on her own personal journey. and good for her. she's creating her own rules and standers for herself.
You're confusing gender (social construct) with sex (biology: female or male) and seem really adamant about it. Look it up. These are the facts.
Read Anna Fausto-Sterling - a biologist who argued from her study at a celluar level that there are actually 5 sexes - not 2. (and I mean sex not gender) Further, there are other cultures who have identiified more than the binary .... but then we consider them "primitive"
Cerri Dwen; Biologically speaking genders really doesn't matter. There are 2 genders (sex, not the social construct) male and female. There is an abnormality which is called hermaphrodite. XX is the most common form of female and XY is the most common for of male. So as I have written earlier there are 2 main sex / genders biologically speaking. Anything other than that is mutation / abnormality. So no matter how much you want to divide, they will fall into one of these 3 categories; female, male and hermaphrodite. Don't look into this to try to make it fit with "gender" situation we have going on nowadays. Anything that is not XY or XX is abnormality, bad genetic code replication. As an atheist, I see religious people try to fit their religion into the world / scientific findings. Now I see very similar stuff with this "gender" subject hence I start to call it new religion!
what about intersex people ? People with XXY ? or XXX, or XYY and I don't mention the variations of genetics.... Recent studies of genetic genders show that there are not 2 genders, but approximatively 25.
No, there are not only 2 genders in humans or animals. This is a fact that some are born with both sexes, so there are 3 sexes. Also some are born with no sex. Informe yourself next time before writing.
This thing started to become the next religion. People act like "science doesn't matter, what matter is what I believe / feel". I don't care what if and when "gender" is used as social contract. Gender can also be used as "sex" as in biological terms. I don't care if 50 years old female caucasian identifies as "6 years old (in cat years) african-american kitten" This is ridiculous. You are either female or male. If there is an abnormality then you can be both. This abnormality might also be extended to mentally being a different gender / sex than your biological gender / sex. This happens and it is normal. Stop putting labels to everything. If there are 2 genders (not as a social construct); female and male. You either are a male or female (however you really feel, biologically it doesn't matter what you feel). In very rare cases (abnormality) you can be both. Brittany stop messing stuff; I wrote (s)he as I didn't know if I should say she or he. As I didn't know the gender.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I think that you are just jealous and you truly are the stupid ine if you cant see the beauty in this post
Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful.
inspiring
Actually I don't really think in genders. But I notice I keep thinking about it because people keep emphasizing on "It's normal/ok to be different! It's normal/ok to be different!" Same as when you keep telling your innocent/pure 3 year old child "It's ok to play with your neighbour's child even though he's black/Asian/African or whatever." Then he will start to think about it. Oh is it ok? or was or should be a problem or special? Even though normally he would just play. WE MAKE it a BIG deal and important. Don't fix a problem in a place there isnt. Th eonly thing you do then is create one. ALOT of people don't understand this or just want attention/money. imo if you really want to change something then speak up when the situation arises when it's needed for example when people discriminate. Start handling specific needed situations/people who offend other and stop obesessively publicly broadcasting how important this is or racism. It's like shooting with a shotgun at 3 targets.
Omg . This is exactly it. Thank you
There, someone finally said it. Thank you, Captain.
"don't fix a problem in a place there isnt" what do you mean gender issues/inequality was not a problem in the past???
Exactly. It shouldn't come to mind that the kid he's playing with is Asian or black. He's just PLAYING, like how a kid should be
so because she looks like a man, gender doesn't exist? people get stupider every day.
"she looks like a man" this is what she's trying to get rid of! Who decided that this is the look of a man? This can be the look of a woman and a man.
Bunnies, from where did you get this? That she has a medical condition?
Just google for "east german women athletes" pictures, then you will see more girls like her do exist.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Zorrito, Rain Dove has a medical condition that makes her have both male and female features. many of the east german athletes look that way because of doping. There is a big difference between the two.
I don't think that's the message here. Sex exists obviously, you can be born female, male or androgenous (if you have a sex defect or something). But gender is purely social construct, where males need to act and dress a certain way and woman another way. What she stands for is that she is a woman, but that shouldn't stop her from dressing, acting or having a hairstyle that we often associate with men. Nor should she be judged or made fun of. And the same should go for men who, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to dress like, act like and have hairstyles that we often associate with women.
Hello lovely Li, thank you ever so much for your very kind message. How dare people make such awful commints on how one looks or is. Thank God that there are people such as you, Li, in this sad world. God Bless you
When I google Gender it says sex is a synonym, so it can be used in a biological sense and is not necessarily just a social construct. I agree with the rest about treating them decently, just like anyone else.
yes, there is this social construction called "gender", but it's just an illusion created by the society. There is nothing that says woman have to wear pjnk and men are strong. That's all bullshit. Gender is not real. Read "Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler!
I recommend to read "Gender Trouble" by Judith Butler, then you will understand these photos.
Gender is a social construction. There are more than just male and female. There are intersex people, non binary, queer etc... I think heis work is very interesting. I love some of these photos. I think S-he is beautiful.
They identify as androgynous, meaning basically no gender. They look neither male nor female, but a mix between the two. Sexuality is what you identify as, not what you look like.
Please nobody shoot me, but I have to say that I agree. Gender definitely exists. We can't really choose our physical gender. We are born the way we are. Sometimes that looks like masculine looking woman or a more feminine man. As much as we'd like to choose our gender, that's just not completely possible.
The point is that what you are describing is sex not gender. You are born with a sex; male, female, androgens(someone with a sex defect). Gender is a social construct. You are entitled to your opinion i just wanted to make sure you understood what people were trying to say.
Sex is what you're born as, gender is what you identify as.
stop
I belief gender does influence the way someone is, just not enough to prescribe them entire roles in society.
Do you mean "I believe".
Nope, the stupid one is you.. Gender != Sex
then why when I google gender it says sex in a synonym? So Gender can = sex.
Scary thing is, more & more people are getting stupider & becoming brainwashed by the media.
I dont understand you...?
Have you any idea how hard it is to be different? For instance, you don't spell or know grammar. Should we put you down in flames? Remember, treat others as you would treat yourself. No one is perfect.
*more stupid
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I'm 100% in agreement with you. There are 2 genders; male or female. That's a fact. It is not about seeing a beauty in this post like Madison Unger said. It is just a simple fact. Biologically speaking, this is an abnormal situation for a human. I have no problems with people being born this way nor feels different within themselves. You can be a male who feels like a female or vice versa. This doesn't change the fact that there are 2 genders for humans as a species. That's the end of it. How you feel or think about this subject doesn't change the fact. By the way, I didn't notice penis. It looks like (s)he has more of a woman body than male body.
If you truly believe what you said about there only being 2 genders then you need to fix your post. SHE is a SHE not a "(s)he" because her as you say gender, but is actually sex is female. The sex she was born with is female. She identities as a female because she IS a female. The is no parentheses around the S because SHE is NOT a he. She simply was born with what stereotypical male features look like. That still does not change, how as you would say scientifically speaking, that she is a SHE and is a Female based on your definion of what gender is. There is no penis because she is female and SHE has a female body because she was born FEMALE.
Actually Biologically there is three genders in Humans. Male, Female and the rarest of gender Hermaphrodite. I agree with the rest . and that people can be a different gender mentally (their soul) some people even can feel both. and some people maybe even feel non. I'm just a big believer in that people just need to be who they want to be and who they feel they are. everyone is living their own journey/path in life . conform to your own standards and don't push them on others. live and let Live. (I don't take this article as her saying there's no gender but more of a insight on her own personal journey. and good for her. she's creating her own rules and standers for herself.
You're confusing gender (social construct) with sex (biology: female or male) and seem really adamant about it. Look it up. These are the facts.
Read Anna Fausto-Sterling - a biologist who argued from her study at a celluar level that there are actually 5 sexes - not 2. (and I mean sex not gender) Further, there are other cultures who have identiified more than the binary .... but then we consider them "primitive"
Cerri Dwen; Biologically speaking genders really doesn't matter. There are 2 genders (sex, not the social construct) male and female. There is an abnormality which is called hermaphrodite. XX is the most common form of female and XY is the most common for of male. So as I have written earlier there are 2 main sex / genders biologically speaking. Anything other than that is mutation / abnormality. So no matter how much you want to divide, they will fall into one of these 3 categories; female, male and hermaphrodite. Don't look into this to try to make it fit with "gender" situation we have going on nowadays. Anything that is not XY or XX is abnormality, bad genetic code replication. As an atheist, I see religious people try to fit their religion into the world / scientific findings. Now I see very similar stuff with this "gender" subject hence I start to call it new religion!
what about intersex people ? People with XXY ? or XXX, or XYY and I don't mention the variations of genetics.... Recent studies of genetic genders show that there are not 2 genders, but approximatively 25.
No, there are not only 2 genders in humans or animals. This is a fact that some are born with both sexes, so there are 3 sexes. Also some are born with no sex. Informe yourself next time before writing.
This thing started to become the next religion. People act like "science doesn't matter, what matter is what I believe / feel". I don't care what if and when "gender" is used as social contract. Gender can also be used as "sex" as in biological terms. I don't care if 50 years old female caucasian identifies as "6 years old (in cat years) african-american kitten" This is ridiculous. You are either female or male. If there is an abnormality then you can be both. This abnormality might also be extended to mentally being a different gender / sex than your biological gender / sex. This happens and it is normal. Stop putting labels to everything. If there are 2 genders (not as a social construct); female and male. You either are a male or female (however you really feel, biologically it doesn't matter what you feel). In very rare cases (abnormality) you can be both. Brittany stop messing stuff; I wrote (s)he as I didn't know if I should say she or he. As I didn't know the gender.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I think that you are just jealous and you truly are the stupid ine if you cant see the beauty in this post
Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful.
inspiring