I think when activists and people who care about the community, do things from a place of genuine knowledge, there's better outcomes for our community, so that would include people who take the time to learn about issues other than the ones they face. Do you agree? What truly constitutes an adequate leader? Many members of the LGBTQIA community have rejected her for various reasons, believing that she's done the community a disservice in representing them. I think some of the benefits of Jaden's position is that his parents have spoken about it in a supportive way, but there's also a complicatedness because Jaden is a person of color, which means people not only critique him for the way he dresses, but also for being black, so I think it's good, but it's also complicated. Traditionally, there's this norm that girls dress like girls and boys dress like boys, and now there's this very visible option to not have to do that. As far as the future goes, it's important to have visibility because it creates new norms. I think Jaden is in a unique position because he's so young and that creates new challenges in the way we talk about youth. I think gender is getting a lot of air time now, especially with Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox being really popular in the media. As an LGBTQIA representative here at USC, what are your thoughts on it, and what do you think this means for our society in the future? You must be familiar with Jaden Smith's gender fluidity by now. To grasp further insight from the perspective of a member of the LGBTQIA community, I sat down with a USC graduate assistant and LGBTQIA representative, Erica Nicole Kirk, who was able to weigh in on the topic more heavily. We've seen androgynous, fluid and transgender models alike represent the LGBTQIA community, but for a young person of color and public figure like Jaden to take on something like this means that, perhaps, he can serve as a notable front-runner for the ever changing industry. Although designers know no bounds, fashion has always been divided between menswear and womenswear. In an already fluid and perceptive industry, Jaden wearing "women's clothing" and serving as the face for Louis Vuitton womenswear speaks levels regarding where the world of fashion could be headed in the years to come. Society only progresses when those who aren't being directly affected can sympathize with the issues people around the world are facing and take action. Not even a decade ago was it normal or acceptable to do the many things that transgenders, agenders or anyone in between is able to do today, such as living freely and authentically, as well as being acknowledged by a majority of people–not just by those who are already a part of the LGBTQIA community. From donning a dress to prom alongside The Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg, to having been granted the honor of serving as the face for Louis Vuitton's womenswear–yes womenswear–just this January Smith has been all but coy in expressing his own gender fluidity, especially on social media. Gender norms, which are institutionalized ideas or perpetual beliefs such as "boys play with trucks" or "girls love the color pink," have contributed to the notion that women who choose to express masculinity or similarly, men who exhibit femininity are not only classified as queer, but are also stigmatized by people who believe gender to be a black and white issue.ġ7-year-old actor and rapper Jaden Smith has conveyed his fervor to confront gender binaries and is amongst several other celebrities who've also digressed from identifying as cis, including stars like Ruby Rose, Angel Haze and Miley Cyrus. It's 2016, which means you're probably familiar with the ever-pertinent debate surrounding gender norms and the inherent "truths" that have been imposed on us by none other than you guessed it… society.
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