My Stuffed Animal 'Bunny' Taught Me That Gender Is A Social Construct
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Politics and Activism

My Stuffed Animal 'Bunny' Taught Me That Gender Is A Social Construct

Everyone deserves to be comfortable with themselves. Yes, even my sweet Bunny.

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My Stuffed Animal 'Bunny' Taught Me That Gender Is A Social Construct
Grace Cowan

When I was three-years-old, the Easter bunny brought me a precious stuffed animal. This stuffed animal was also a bunny, a green bunny. In my eyes, green has always been a neutral color, never specifying gender. To no one's surprise, my three-year-old self-named this bunny, well, Bunny.

Again, an animal has always seemed neutral to me. When I say dog, pig or bunny, my mind doesn't jump to any specific gender.

I'm 19 now, and Bunny still sleeps tucked under my arm. Together we've traveled to nine countries, riding on planes, cruise ships, trains, and even a rickshaw. Bunny is one of my most prized possessions.

My whole life I've had people ask me whether Bunny was a boy or girl. To answer that question honestly, well, I don't know. Bunny has always just been Bunny! I've always been confused why I had to appoint a gender to my stuffed animal.

Thinking about this now, in a time where gender fluidity is so common, I find myself wondering why appointing gender is so important. Why can't Jane be Jane, Mark be Mark, and Bunny be Bunny?

Should the title "He/She" impact the way you view someone? If someone is an awful person, they are going to be awful whether they are he, she, purple or a snowman. If someone is the most wonderful person you've ever met, aren't they still going to be wonderful whether or not they identify he or she?

Personally, I'm most comfortable with someone when they are comfortable with themselves. Sometimes in life, you just don't know where to turn. In this case, maybe you were born as a boy, but don't feel as though you identify with that gender. Some might say a practical answer would be to have a sex change, but what if you don't feel as though you identify with a female either. Why should this decision be forced on people?

For 16 years I've contemplated this idea, and though I myself use pronounce her/hers, I will always respect them/they/theirs. Everyone deserves to be comfortable with themselves.

Yes, even my sweet Bunny.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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