I think gender is a construct,
meaning it's something that we have created
and essentially invented.
It's not real or based in any sort of fact.
But we, and the institutions that we've created,
do treat it as though it's real, so that gives it power.
Gender is . . . especially the way that we see it in America,
is this constructed idea
that stems from white supremacy.
And . . . it is a way to categorize people.
In the current moment, to me as a young person,
it feels sort of like . . .
a box that everyone is trying to figure out if they fit into.
Gender is definitely a form of self-expression,
and it's very different from person to person
and very personal.
I think for me, for a long time I approached gender
as really only encompassing your outward expression,
your physical appearance.
But having more conversations with people,
joining more social justice groups,
and just really educating myself more,
I've realized how much broader gender is.
And it can really encompass those more subconscious
aspects of life.
Gender roles like how you behave,
what your mind jumps to when you approach certain situations,
your self-perception, and just everyday decisions.
I think gender is such a nebulous topic.
And I think, especially because
we're talking to interns, young people,
I think all of us, we're still figuring it out.
I know I definitely am.
But I just think broadly, it's just a way of . . .
it's just a way of embodying yourself.
And it's really just about that,
about finding a way for you to navigate the world
the way that you're most comfortable.
Gender is a construct that we are socialized around,
that we build our identities around,
that for the most part is very limiting, I think,
and very unnecessary and dividing.
But I think people are attempting to reclaim it,
or at least attempting to reclaim their socialization around gender
to be a more positive thing.
I've really been thinking about
where do my ideas of gender come from.
And I also came out as non-binary in January.
I started using "she" and "they" pronouns
because ultimately, when I think about it,
if you take away all of the layers
of who I am as a person,
and you just get down to my core, or my soul,
I really don't think that that is something that has a gender.
The core of my being is not a boy or a girl,
it's just me,
and it's the collection of my experiences,
and my thoughts and my memories.