Challenging ‘Gender’: Tackling Gender Stereotypes Head-On

Challenging ‘Gender’: Tackling Gender Stereotypes Head-On

This list comprises of just five wonderful people (women, men and non-binary people), who have been challenging gender stereotypes for the past year. They provide inspiration and information for those who may be struggling with their gender identity, as well as increasing awareness to the public. With their wide platforms, these people are pioneers in the fight against gender injustice.

1) Dove Rain

Dove Rain is a gender non-conforming model from New York, who has keen links with fashion, film and activism in LGBTQ+ rights and gender issues. They pose in gender-subversive fashion shoots and productions, as well as modelling in many different runways. They describe their gender in the words: “For me that was so important, because I didn’t feel like I was male or female”, recognising their potential for both masculinity and femininity, and the importance of self-identifying and feeling at home in your own being. Recently, they have been advocating for intersectional voices and challenging the social stereotypes of gendered-dressing. Check out their Instagram, @raindovemodel to see what they are getting up to.

2) Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has been making bold moves in the public eye to challenge gender stereotypes. In May 2021, they came out as non-binary and announced they had been doing some “healing and self-reflective work” to come to this conclusion. They explain that a change of pronouns helps them to best express the fluidity of this gender identity. Demi also announced in March that they are pansexual and are attracted to people regardless of their gender. For someone constantly in the spotlight, this was a very public announcement. It took courage and conviction for the singer, as well as Demi becoming a positive role-model for anyone feeling uncomfortable with their gender labels and pronouns.

3) Elliott Page

Elliott Page is included in this list for his strides made in the field of gender identity and acceptance. Page’s announcement that he was transitioning from female to male made him one of the world’s most famous transgender actors in the world. With the news trending in 20 countries worldwide, he gained more than 400,000 Instagram followers in just one day. He attributes his revelation in part to the pandemic lockdown, which meant he came head on with himself. With anti-trans hate crimes on the rise in America, this announcement comes with responsibility and pressure, but Page is proving to be a key voice in the entertainment industry tackling transphobia.

4) Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox has been involved in transgender activism for several years now, and was the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine in 2021. She is an American actress known for her roles in Orange is the New Black and Promising Young Woman (a must see for feminists!). She has Emmy nominations as well as an illustrious activism career. Cox is a well-loved role model, and strong trans-woman actress who has highlighted the dangers of being transgender in modern society, as well as the issues she has faced with self-depreciation. Most recently she has been advocating for people to consume magazines and media which have positive transgender information in them, to show those in charge of them that this is an issue that matters to their audience.

5) Samaira Mehta

Although she is less known in mainstream media and celebrity culture, Samaira Mehta is an interesting and exciting young voice who is challenging gender stereotypes. Samaira is a 12-year-old American coder, who is the founder and CEO of Coderbunnyz and Codermindz. These are which games which teach young children the basics of coding. Her work with the UN Women’s Equality campaigns has meant that she has been a leading voice advocating for women in technology and STEM. She is challenging the stereotypes that workers in coding are all white males, and is encouraging other young people to do the same – she is definitely an interesting young woman to keep an eye out for!