Determined Nation Magazine Vol. 4 Iss. 1: The College Survival Guide Volume 4 Sept 2014 | Page 6

C U LT U R E & I D E N T I T Y

BeyondBinary

By Ell Cleland

F

or most of my childhood there
was this moment of hesitation
as I approached the restroom: a
confused pause as I reminded myself,
Wait... which one do I go in again? A
brief grasp for the protocol of this situation or a glance down at my clothes
reminded me that right, I was supposed to use this one, and I was on
my way.

6

This confusion continued well into
my teenage years, and began manifesting in other ways. Friends started calling me gender-neutral titles; I
bought from both the blue and pink
aisles of the store; when people
called me girl or said I was going to be
a woman or a mother, it felt like they
were talking to someone right behind
me, like the words didn’t stick. When
people learned I didn’t wear make-

www.facebook.com/determinednationmagazine