BRADFORD, 21, BURLINGTON, VT
Gender Projected
How old are you, and where are you from?
23. Washington, DC.
How would you identify your gender?
Genderqueer or genderfluid.
What presentation made you feel least like yourself? Why?
Hands down--the shorts. For one, I did a lot of really masculine poses during that one. And for two, I just don’t wear shorts...ever.
What presentation would you be afraid to wear on the street where you live now (if any?) Why?
Where I live now, the far feminine one. Really, I would be afraid wearing anything feminine at all in my neighborhood.
What presentation would you be afraid to wear on the street in your hometown or around your family? (if any?) Why?
Anything more feminine than androgynous for family. They don’t understand. I don’t know how else to put it.
How do you generally present?
Androgynous. Maybe a little more femme-drogynous. My basic presentation is very neutral clothing and lipstick.
Did you gain any perspective on gender identity/expression in yourself during the project?
It made me rethink how the gender spectrum is not a straight line. It’s not for A to B - it’s from A to 7.
Does the ease of a certain gender identity make you dress that way more?
Yes, in both ways. For masculinity, it is easier for me to physically dress masculine because I came equipped that way. But in times of extreme stress, I find it so much easier emotionally to present feminine.
Do you dress a different way when you are trying to appeal to a different audience?
Yes, in general I will. There have definitely been times that I have played up a certain aspect [of my gender identity] because I feel so comfortable on many levels of the spectrum.
In your life, was there another time you explored/experimented with gender identity/expression? If so, what type of experience was it?
Yes. My entire life. The first vivid memory I have from was when I was 14, and I was borrowing my sister’s clothing without asking to go to a gay pride rally. I got caught and it resulted in a giant family argument. It was not pretty, and it didn’t make me feel very great.
What keeps you from presenting the way you feel most comfortable if anything?
My boss.
What do you feel is the most salient aspect of your identity? How do you feel that this part of your identity was represented and/or misrepresented in this project?
A lot people comment on how feminine my hair is. They are not negative comments, so I just say “okay.” People will probably notice this in the photographs because I can use my hair to be femininely embodied.
What do you feel is the aspect of your identity that you think about the most? How do you feel that this part of your identity was represented and/or misrepresented in this project?
I find it really aggravating, especially at work, that I can’t just be myself. I have to change just to go in and grab my paycheck. I’m the only one at work that is not allowed to wear nail polish, and I have to wash my lipstick off my face because my boss says it will “make my male customers uncomfortable.”
How do your gender identity and sexuality intersect, if at all? How was that represented/misrepresented in the project?
You can answer both questions by circling all of the above. But I find it frustrating that people assume aspects of my orientation based on my gender identity, however accurate they may be.
Do you have anything else you want to say about your experience with Gender, Projected?
I really enjoy the concept of capturing someone’s beauty and ignoring their gender identity during a photoshoot.