Elliot Page Calls Out ‘People’s Obsession With The Binary’
Elliot Page recently chatted about transitioning to Seth Meyers. He spoke on what it’s been like to transition in real life at the same time as his character on “The Umbrella Academy”.
When asked about the negative responses he’s received from strangers, Vulture says the actor spoke about how much more positive his life has been since coming out. He said, “What I want to focus on right now, and has been so extraordinary, is the degree of joy that I feel, the degree of presence that I feel. I feel a way that I really never thought possible.”
People Are Obsessed With The Gender Binary
Page also spoke on an important topic that I personally think should be talked about much more. He gave his insight into the limitations that the gender binary brings to not only queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming people, but also to cisgender and nonqueer people as well. He said, “I feel like it’s one of those things where it’s so unfortunate, because it’s like, we’re all on the same team here, you know? Whether you’re trans, gender nonconforming, cis. We all have these expectations, and these, sort of, limits and constraints because of people’s obsession with the binary, and how we’re all supposed to live our lives.”
How Gender Norms Affect Our Obsession With The Binary
What Page refers to here is something I have been thinking about for a long time now. He is absolutely right in that people are obsessed with subscribing to the binary. Growing up in American society, there are gender roles and norms that we feel we must abide to. What Page talks about here is how we might think this is only limiting to people who do not subscribe to the binary, but in reality, these limitations are placed on everyone, no matter how you identify, because it is such a large part of our culture.
Why I Identify As Nonbinary
Personally, this is a large reason why I identify as both a woman and nonbinary. Sometimes, I love being a woman and redefining that for myself each day. But sometimes, the limitations of being a woman overwhelm me. It becomes too much. Whereas the nonbinary space of identity is incredibly freeing. Because as I see it, choosing to forego the gender binary is a safe space where you can make your own rules. Being nonbinary means you’re not expected to wear certain clothes or develop certain habits like shaving your legs every other day. You really can build yourself up in whatever way you choose. Like Elliot Page says, it’s a beautiful thing to realize you don’t have to stay bogged down by these limitations.
Watch Page’s full interview on Late Night With Seth Meyers here.
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