Facebook adds “fill in the blank” gender option for users
Facebook Inc had already expanded the gender options on its social network to 58 different choices, and now it has expanded that number even further by adding a “fill in the blank” option that allows users to input whatever they want.
Facebook has previously run into trouble with some gender identity groups with its controversial “real name” policy, which requires users to use their legal name for their Facebook profile. This policy upsets many users who do not identify with the gender of their given name and have decided to use a different one.
According to Facebook, the change was enacted to protect its community from fraudulent profiles, but others accused the site of discriminating against transgendered people. It has also affected other groups, most recently Native Americans whose profiles were deleted because Facebook assumed that their names were not real. Dana Lone Hill, for example, lost her account until Facebook restored it after her story received media attention.
Facebook is currently facing a class action lawsuit as a result of the effect of its real name policy on Native Americans.
“This setting gives people the ability to express themselves in an authentic way”
“Now, if you do not identify with the pre-populated list of gender identities, you are able to add your own,” Facebook said on its Facebook Diversity page. “As before, you can add up to ten gender terms and also have the ability to control the audience with whom you would like to share your custom gender. We recognize that some people face challenges sharing their true gender identity with others, and this setting gives people the ability to express themselves in an authentic way.”
In addition to the customer gender field, users are also able to select what pronoun they prefer to be used by automated Facebook messages such as birthday reminders. Users can choose to be referred to as him, her, or them. Note that users choosing “them” may face discrimination from grammar sticklers.
The new gender option is currently only available to English-speaking Facebook users, and so far there isno word on when or if the change will make it to other language versions.
photo credit: leeander via photopin cc
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