Gender is complicated. Whether you’re cis, trans, or a secret third thing, it can be really tricky to untangle the endless nuisance of identity, expression, and societal expectations. While some on the right (and some who pretend they’re not on the right) will try to claim that gender is biological and unchangeable, those of us with more than two brain cells can understand its nuance. When left unexamined, gender can seem quite simple, like for one local man who definitely isn’t embarking on the self-discovery journey of a lifetime.
Jake Craft, a third year computer science major, is one of the many people that largely has ignored the question of gender. “Yeah I guess you could say I’m just kind of ambivalent to the whole subject. I mean, I almost cried when a cashier called me “sir” the other day, but that’s just because I don’t want to feel old, right? Every young person hates that word.”
Jake’s “gender ambivalence” has been a fact of life for him as long as he can remember, but he does admit to occasionally engaging with his feminine side, “yeah pretty much every Halloween, themed party, or other occasion i can I’ll dress as a girl! That’s just because it’s funny, and like, really soul-fulfilling in a way I can’t quite grasp, but it’s mostly just fun! I mean, I also usually choose a female character in video games, but that’s just because I like the way girls look–I’m not repressing anything! And the girl’s name I always use in online games is just so i can stay in character.”
Although Jake hasn’t put much thought into gender, he’s put plenty of effort into hobbies. Despite his education mainly focusing on algorithms and coding, Jake also has a surprisingly vast knowledge of medicine! “I’ve got this really cool map of all the hospitals and clinics that provide gender affirming care in Madison! I’ve also learned a ton about estradiol, spironolactone, and a bunch of other parts of a medical transition. I just wanna be a good ally! I think…”