Gender :/

     This topic is especially interesting to me as I consider myself to fit into a different category of just man or woman. I am genderfluid, for those who don't know gender fluid is exactly what it sounds like the fluidity between genders. Gender fluidity is weird, it's a constant not knowing. Some days are easy and some days aren't, it feels like a constant cycle of being comfortable with how you look in the body you're given and others it creates this pit in your stomach where everything looks and feels just wrong. These are things that I have just recently found out about myself, and I understand that not everyone will know what I am talking about but within coming to Converse and seperating myself from the conservative, christian household where gender was not up for discussion, I've found comfort in music knowing that someone knows what it feels like to not ever really know. 

     Music in and of itself has been know to be very sexist and not necessarily in a bad way but there are specific gender roles that were filled just like anything yet in modern day more artists are no longer conforming. More and more artists over the years have shared larger pieces of their lives like sexuality and gender. Demi Lovato is an example of that, Demi identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. Their most recent album resonates with a lot of people not just because of the messages behind them but because of the person who writes them. I personally will become way more obsessed with a song if I feel like I know the artists story. 

"Freak" by Demi Lovato and YUNGBLUD isn't a song about gender but YUNGBLUD is another artist who is very open about his sexuality and openly discusses hard hitting topics not only in his songs but at his concerts as well. Many artists will collaborate on the The openness of artists help me feel connected to something especially when it's been been a hard day. 

Growing up in my house wearing boys clothes wasn't okay for a girl, dresses always needed to be worn at nice events because pants were for men, and even the basic things like always expect a man to open the door for you. I never understood that because when it came to clothes I just wanted to be comfortable and I didn't understand why I couldn't open my own door, as I've grown it was never about whether I could or couldn't but what was socially expected. 

    "Verbatim" by Mother Mother, I absolutely love this song it questions gender in clothing, what defines a man or a person's sexuality. I heard this song about a year ago and it quickly became part of my everyday playlist. It touches on things that would typically not come in an everyday conversation and it shows a little window into the artists as people. 

   

     I think that gender and sexuality in music is something that is needed as a way to express differences rather than uphold the gender normalities, everyone is a different person who goes through different experiences that shape us into individuals that we are and those who share the emotions that come with it become a life-line to another simply through music.