What is ¿gender?
¿Gender is a xenogender that is unique to Latino and Hispanic communities. It represents a gender experience so specific and culturally rooted that it cannot be adequately described in Dutch; or most other languages. The essence of ¿gender lies beyond traditional gender categories and defies classification within conventional terms or associations.
This identity is exclusively tied to Latino and Hispanic cultures. The inverted question mark (¿), a symbol unique to Spanish and languages culturally linked to it, such as Galician, Asturian, and Waray, plays a pivotal role in its representation.
¿Gender exemplifies how gender identity can be deeply intertwined with linguistic and cultural contexts. It challenges conventional ideas about gender and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and understanding the diversity of gender identities, especially those grounded in specific cultural and ethnic experiences.
Alejandro grew up in a bilingual household, navigating both the cultural richness of his Latin American heritage and the societal norms of his European surroundings. While his peers seemed to find comfort in traditional gender labels, Alejandro felt like none of them fit. He saw gender as something fluid, unique, and deeply tied to his cultural identity, but he didn’t have the words to express it.
One day, during a discussion in an online forum for LGBTQ+ Latinx individuals, Alejandro came across the term ¿Gender. It instantly resonated with him. The inverted question mark, a symbol of his linguistic heritage, encapsulated the curiosity and complexity of his gender experience. “This is me,” he thought, realizing that ¿gender allowed him to embrace his identity without forcing it into binary or Western frameworks.
When Alejandro shared this discovery with his cousin Sofia, she smiled and said, “It makes so much sense for you. It’s like your gender is asking a question, just like the ¿ symbol.” This perspective gave Alejandro the validation he needed. Identifying as ¿Gender not only helped him articulate his experience but also allowed him to connect more deeply with his cultural roots. It reminded him that his identity was not just personal but also a celebration of the unique intersection between gender and culture.
Flag
The flag was originally designed by Mod Hermy of the ask-pride-color-schemes tumblr, an anonymous user added the question marks and assigned the following meanings to the stripes:
- Pink – Female/Feminine identities
- Green – Agender identities
- White – Non-binary identities
- Orange – Bigender identities
- Blue – Male/Masculine identities
Resources
- https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/gender-664036247
- https://ask-pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/157459895004/thanks-for-that-quick-response-about-gender-i
- https://ask-pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/157469913434/gender-anon-again-for-the-other-colors-i-always