Genderfae

'Genderfae' is a non-binary label for someone with a fluid sense of gender within the feminine spectrum — shifting between woman, demigirl, agender and other feminine or neutral variants, but never reaching 'man'. The masculine counterpart is called 'genderfaun'. According to the LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 'genderfae' is attributed to an anonymous user of the mogai-archive blog in 2014.

What does it mean?

The idea is that a person's sense of gender shifts, as with genderfluid, but within a defined part of the 'spectrum'. For genderfae, it remains within the feminine domain; for genderfaun, within the masculine domain. For people who never experience themselves as the (fully) opposite gender, it offers a more precise label.

Distinctions and overlap

Genderfae overlaps with demigirl and some variants of genderfluid. The emphasis is on shifting between feminine variants without reaching the masculine side. In practice, the choice of label depends on how someone describes themselves and on the community they are part of.

Social and practical context

Genderfae and genderfaun are found only in specific online communities. They do not appear on official documents. Pronouns vary; more about this can be found under gender-neutral language.

Critical perspectives

It is questionable whether it is useful to distinguish 'fluidity within one half of the spectrum' as a separate category. The labels seem primarily to represent an ongoing refinement of an endless series of micro-categories, driven by online group dynamics. The overview how many genders there are lists these labels. For the person using it, the label may feel personally fitting; that does not automatically make it a distinct category.

How such group dynamics work, analysed through academic cult research: gendersekte.nl.