(no subject)

[alexseanchai]

I wonder if it's possible to write a story with a genderfluid lead without calling attention to the fact except via changing pronouns (and possibly name—like, Alexandra for when the lead is female, Alex for when the lead is male or agender or bigender or whichever one I decide to go with) and without confusing the fuck out of the presumably-not-up-on-gender-minorities-except-maybe-trans-folk audience.

I mean, I could and probably should explain the concept in the story, but that's not as fun as seeing if the audience picks it up unprompted.

Comments

[dawn-bat.livejournal.com]

Singular 'they' FTW. In doesn't jump of the page the same way 'ze' does, and in spoken language it even has a chance of going unnoticed.

[alexseanchai]

Ooo. That's a thought.

[ilyat]

Yeah, singular 'they' is one of my favorite fallbacks. I've also found that it is the least offensive (or most accepted) misuse of pronouns by those who are genderfluid, regardless as to whether or not you know their preferred pronouns, in that the speaker is consciously making an effort to include as many options as possible.

The only downside I've seen to using 'they' is that hard grammar cops will say that it's wrong to use a pronoun that is accepted as plural for singular use. These are the same people who will argue the literal usage of each word instead of its intent, though, and generally I wouldn't worry about them.

They is also used colloquially, verbally and in writing, in the US. It's not going to jump out at most readers, even those who aren't exposed or accustomed to the idea of genderfluidity.

[alexseanchai]

It's been used as singular since Shakespeare at least.

[myaibou]

Great idea! That would definitely be less likely to stop a reader in their tracks and pull them out of the story.