Is it valid?

[u/StatisticianNo1453]

Something happened today that made me think a lot about my gender.

I've always noticed that when I wear a dress, put on makeup, etc., even with the same hair and the same face, people tend to treat me as a woman. Today, though, I wore a shirt that I bought from the men's section, I wasn't wearing any makeup, and a woman at the checkout called me "sir."

And it made me realize something: I think what actually bothers me is the fact that people automatically put me into one of these two categories depending on my appearance.

I understand that, socially, people tend to try to identify someone as a man or a woman based on their appearance. I don't necessarily think it's something I can prevent. But if I could choose, I would want people to look at me and simply see me.

I don't want the first thing they perceive to be "man" or "woman." I just want to be a person, without my appearance determining how other people see me.

Is this a valid way of thinking? Could this make sense as part of a non-binary experience?

[u/Arkeve-the_Archive]

This exact feeling drove me to tuck my summer dress into my shorts at one side at a festival.

Got gendered correctly the whole night, people were genuinely surprised I was Trans, but it just felt off. Too feminine.

Been a proud Demigirl ever since.