Map of Genderland

“Map of Genderland” is a textile art piece that invites people to explore a world rich in gender diversity. This quilt has 43 unique islands, each one celebrating a different gender identity – from “Woman City” and “Man Land,” to “Genderqueertopia,” “Transneutralboro,” and beyond. This map is a colorful, welcoming space where every identity has a place and every story is valued.

This patchwork of identities illustrates the individuality and shared humanity in our diverse expressions of gender, encouraging a deeper understanding and acceptance of each other. “Map of Genderland” is more than just a piece of art – it’s an invitation to view gender through a lens of openness and curiosity. Each ‘gender island’ is designed with its own character and flair, representing the unique qualities and stories that make up our distinct experiences of gender.

Using textiles, a medium that naturally weaves together various elements to form a cohesive whole, the quilt mirrors the way diverse gender identities blend to form the rich tapestry of human experience. Every stitch, color, and pattern in this piece is a celebration of difference and a nod to the beauty of diversity. Each identity encompasses a complex, vibrant community where no two individuals are exactly alike, and every curve and thread has its own unique flavor.

Here are some definitions for you! People identifying as each of these genders may use varying interpretations (please use and respect the definition or lack-thereof that a person gives you for their gender), but this gives a general sense. I’ve quoted from a few different gender websites and used hyperlinks and endnotes to link to the original resources. People update websites so the definitions may have changed in the meantime, but that just means you get a wider range of descriptions for the terms! The definitions are listed in alphabetical order, interspersed with closeups of the Map.

Agenderton. Some who call themselves agender have no gender identity (genderless). Others who call themselves agender have a gender identity, which isn’t female or male, but neutral. (1)

Ambigender Riverton. Experiencing two genders simultaneously and without fluidity or shifting. Similar to bigender. (1)

Androgynous Summit. This ancient word is used for a wide variety of gender nonconforming and nonbinary identities and gender expressions, and has sometimes been used as an umbrella term for them. (1)

Bigender Bluff. A bigender person feels they have two gender identities, at the same time, or at different times. A bigender person may move between their gender expressions based on their situation or their feelings. These two genders might be female and male, or they might be a different pair of genders. (1)

Boiburg. An umbrella term for many different queer masculine identities. For example, the bklyn boihood organization defines boi this way: “We are transmen, studs, doms, butches, tomboys, queens, Ags-all self-identified bois and queers of color striving for visibility, self-affirmation using our stories, journeys, and talents.” (3)

Butchport. Butch is a queer masculine identity that is neither the same as nor an imitation of manhood. Queer theorist Jack Halberstam defines the indefinability of butch: “The butch is neither cis-gender nor simply transgender […] Butch is always a misnomer– not male, not female, masculine but not male, female but not feminine”. Butch is a diverse category. Some people choose to call themselves butch, some still identify within the gender binary. (1)

Commogender Point/Port -. Definitely knowing you aren’t cisgender, but you’re too exhausted to think about gender so you just settle for man or woman. (2)

Demifluid Well. A gender identity for “someone whose gender is partially fluid with the other part(s) being static. A term for polygender/bigender individuals to describe when one of their genders is “static” and the other ranges in intensity and presence. (3)

Drag Kingdom. Drag is a type of entertainment where people dress up and perform, often in highly stylized ways. Drag Kings are usually women or non-binary people wearing men’s clothing and performing stylized forms of masculinity. This does not inherently mean they are transgender, but they might be. (5)

Drag Queendom. Usually men or non-binary people wearing women’s clothing and performing  stylized forms of femininity. This does not inherently mean they are transgender, but they might be. (5)

Enby Bay. Based on an initialism of “non-binary,” “NB”. A common noun for a person with a nonbinary identity. This is the nonbinary equivalent of the common nouns “boy” or “girl.” Plural: enbies. The word is spelled out as “enby” because the acronym “NB” means “non-black” in the BIPOC community. (1)

Femme Center. Femme originated as a queer feminine identity in 1950s working-class lesbian bar culture. Traditionally, femme was the counterpart of the butch role. Today, queer people who choose to call themselves femme do not necessarily seek a butch-femme relationship. Femme does not simply mean a conventionally feminine woman, and is instead a culturally transgressive identity. Nonbinary and genderqueer people sometimes also identify as femme. (1)

Fluidfemme Suburbs. See genderfluid, on the feminine side. (1)

Fluidflux Falls. A gender identity that changes over time and also varies in intensity. (1)

Genderbender Bend. Someone who actively transgresses, or “bends,” expected gender roles and presentation. Some gender benders identify with the gender assigned them at birth, but challenge the norms of that gender through androgynous behavior and atypical gender roles. Gender benders may self-identify as transgender, genderqueer, or non-binary, feeling that the gender assigned to them at their birth is an inaccurate or incomplete description of themselves; some desire to change their physical body through hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery, some don’t want to change their bodies, and some were born intersex. (3)

Genderblur (Lake -). Where your gender changes constantly but fades away into something else rather than making a hard or abrupt transition. Similar to genderfluid. (2)

Genderfluid Springs. A gender identity that often changes, so that a person may feel one day like a boy, and another day like a girl. However, genderfluidity is not limited to being only male and female, some people experience a wide range of genders without ever being male or female. (1)

Genderliminal Valley. It’s a gender on the edge of existing and not existing (between gender and agender), or one that dances between the two. (1)

Genderqueertopia. A non-normative gender identity or expression. This can be an umbrella term, or a specific identity. (1)

Gendervoid View. A gender consisting of the void, often similar to genderless (1)

Greygenderidge. person who identifies as (at least partially) outside the gender binary and has a strong natural ambivalence about their gender identity or gender expression. They feel they have a gender(s), as well as a natural inclination or desire to express it, but it’s weak and/or somewhat indeterminate/indefinable, or they don’t feel it most of the time, or they’re just not that invested in it. (3)

Hijra Heights. In south Asian countries including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the Hijra are people who were assigned male at birth, who have a feminine gender expression. This is a very ancient tradition. Today, Hijra are legally recognized as a gender other than female or male. (1)

Hypergender High. Experiencing a gender with more intensity than is common for your identity, e.g. hyperboy, hypergirl, hyper(gender) etc, or when you feel like your gender is fully one thing, but then you have extra gender added on top of it. Opposite of demi. (2)

Intergender Creek. A gender identity used by some intersex people (and often seen as not to be used by dyadic people), intergender can be considered to be between male and female, or to be a combination of the two. Intergender people may also identify as nonbinary, genderqueer and/or transgender. However, some intergender people consider themselves cisgender, as their gender is reflective of their sex characteristics at birth. (3)

Māhū Mound. In Hawaii, in the Kanaka Maoli society, the māhū is a nonbinary role, made of people who may have been assigned either male or female at birth. This tradition existed before Western invaders, and survives today. (1)

Man Land. Anyone with a male gender identity is male: he is a man or boy. Any man’s manhood is valid regardless of what kind of body parts he has, or what gender he was assigned at birth. Although “male” is one of the two binary genders, someone can be both male and nonbinary. (4)

Metagender (Cliff -). To identify around or beyond a gender. Where your gender identity is almost that gender, but not quite, and also extends beyond that. (2)

Multigender Grove. A term for anyone who experiences more than one gender identity. Multigender identities include bigender (2 genders), trigender (3 genders), quadgender (4 genders), quintgender (5 genders), polygender (many genders), pangender (all genders) and genderfluid (variable gender). (3)

Neutroisville. Having one non-binary gender identity that is neutral. Not female, not male, and not a mix. Some neutrois people are trans (see transneutral), experience gender dysphoria, and want to get a physical transition. (1)

Omnigender Meadow. a gender identity that encompasses a large number of or all genders (of one’s culture, because identifying with gender(s) outside one’s culture would be cultural appropriation). This could mean feeling many or all genders at the same time or being fluid between many or all genders across time. Also sometimes called pangender. (4)

Polygender Prairie. Having several gender identities, particularly four or more of them. This can mean at different times, or at the same time (1)

Queer Island. A word that many people in the LGBTQ+ community have reclaimed from being a slur (while others still strongly prefer not to use it), and an umbrella term for identities that are not heterosexual and/or not cisgender. Some people use this as the name for their nonbinary gender identity. (1)

Questioning Crossroads. Some use this while questioning their gender and/or sexuality, some take up this as a name for their gender identity, and some see it as a nonbinary gender identity. (1)

Trigenderidge is a gender identity which can be literally translated as ‘three genders’ or ‘triple gender’. Trigender people experience exactly three gender identities, either simultaneously or varying between them. These three gender identities can be male, female and/or any non-binary identities. (3)

Transylvania (transgender). An umbrella term that refers to people whose identity differs from their assigned gender at birth. Some nonbinary people also use this word to talk about their identity. (1)

Transfemmebridge. A transgender person who transitions in a feminine direction, but who doesn’t necessarily identify as female. They may have a nonbinary identity. (1)

Transmanson. Someone who is both a man and transgender/transsexual. Trans men were assigned female at birth, but their gender identity is male. They may be referred to as transmasculine. Some trans men wish to change their bodies and/or gender expression in ways that align with their experience of their gender. (3)

Transmasc Mountain. A transgender person who transitions in a masculine direction, but who doesn’t necessarily identify as male. They may have a nonbinary identity. (1)

Transneutralboro. A transgender person who identifies and/or transitions in a neutral direction, rather than towards a binary gender (male/female). (2)

Transwomanford. Someone who is both a woman and transgender/transsexual. Trans women were assigned male at birth but their gender identity is female. They may be referred to as transfeminine. Some trans women wish to change their bodies and/or gender expression in ways that align with their experience of their gender. (3)

Two-spirit Town. An umbrella term for all traditional gender and sexual identities in hundreds of cultures in the Americas (primarily North America) outside of Western ideas of gender and sex roles. Many cultures with Two-spirit identities have their own unique names and roles within the culture. Two-Spirit should only be used in reference to people who are Native American and self-identify with the term. (1)

Woman City. Anyone with a female gender identity is female: she is a woman or girl. Any woman’s womanhood is valid no matter what kind of body parts she has, or what gender she was assigned at birth. Although “female” is one of the binary genders, someone can be both female and nonbinary. (4)

“Map of Genderland” holds a special place in my heart, as it’s permanently displayed at Powell House Quaker Youth Center. This center is more than just a location to me; it’s where I first heard the word ‘transgender,’ came out to the community soon thereafter, and found deeper and deeper layers of myself. Now, as an adult facilitating conferences here, I have the honor of supporting new generations as they discover and embrace their true selves.

It’s a heartwarming and common sight to see groups spontaneously gather around this map, their excitement palpable as they trace their own journeys across the various islands. Witnessing individuals see aspects of themselves represented in art, often for the first time, is a profound experience. This piece isn’t just art; it’s a beacon of self-discovery and affirmation, reflecting the ongoing, beautiful journey of identity exploration within our community.