Vol. 7, Issue 2: Gender Expectations

Vol. 7, Issue 2: Gender Expectations

AZE Journal
Journal, 2025

AZE, 7(2): Gender Expectations

Contributors: Eleanor Graydon, Henry Opeyemi, A. Deshmane, Jessie Atkin, L, Aiden Grace Smith, Aether, Love, Builder of Worlds, Gilberto Lee Escobedo, AQ, MsRanaDee, nat raum, B. Grae Curtis, Roman Todd, Elia, Kim TheBwordPoet, Winniefred Sharp, Ding, N. L. Klopper

Editor: Michael Paramo

Cover Artwork: “dolls” (Paramo)

Supporters: This journal issue would not be possible without AZE’s supporters on Patreon. A special thank you to Lindsey, Alex Hansen, Caitlin McKenna, Chris Pasillas, and Heidi Samuelson! You can support the journal here.

Date of Publication: January 18th, 2025

Featured
Choosing A Gender
Kim TheBwordPoet
Choosing A Gender
Kim TheBwordPoet

I was first aware of gender when my voice changed. 

Kim TheBwordPoet
Queer as in Fuck You
Aiden Grace Smith
Queer as in Fuck You
Aiden Grace Smith

First, you want to know who fucks me now. 

Aiden Grace Smith
late bloomer
Ding
late bloomer
Ding

‘But do you know?’ ‘Are you certain?’ ‘You’ll figure it out eventually’.

Ding
the world is my grave
Elia
the world is my grave
Elia

my body will never be used

for what the male gods have the female insides predestined for

Elia
Time, A Notebook Of Water
Henry Opeyemi
Time, A Notebook Of Water
Henry Opeyemi

From the moment we left those feelings 

unpronounced

Henry Opeyemi
The Choices We Don’t Make
B. Grae Curtis
The Choices We Don’t Make
B. Grae Curtis

Your ace-ness has fed you a

comforting lie

B. Grae Curtis
journal (take #53)
nat raum
journal (take #53)
nat raum

dear diary, i’ll make this brief in the sense that i’ll try to summarize everything i cannot say concisely

nat raum
Three Poems
Gilberto Lee Escobedo
Three Poems
Gilberto Lee Escobedo

When he clasps your hand

It is both a greeting

And a recognition of the

Work needing to be done

Gilberto Lee Escobedo
Dress Code
Jessie Atkin
Dress Code
Jessie Atkin

All the girls wore plaid jumpers until I turned ten years old.

Jessie Atkin
In the absence of? Everything.
Aether
In the absence of? Everything.
Aether

He holds me so tight I might compress back into stardust.

Aether
Intimacy – The Duality of being Ace.
Eleanor Graydon
Intimacy – The Duality of being Ace.
Eleanor Graydon

I write a lot about intimacy. I write about my understanding of it.

Eleanor Graydon
asexual has a manic episode
A. Deshmane
asexual has a manic episode
A. Deshmane

lens of / kaleidoscopic shards / render me 

A. Deshmane
The Formula
AQ
The Formula
AQ

boy + girl = couple

Society has hammered the formula into me since birth.

AQ
On the Discomfort of Inhabiting Gender and Sexuality
N. L. Klopper
On the Discomfort of Inhabiting Gender and Sexuality
N. L. Klopper

My confrontation with gender detachment was the first time that I was able to put into words the relationship I have to my gender.

N. L. Klopper
From Toxically Male to Asexual: Unlearning Patriarchal Maleness
L
From Toxically Male to Asexual: Unlearning Patriarchal Maleness
L

Not so long ago, a friend of mine told me that people that knew me from school were surprised to hear that I was interested in feminist topics.

L
Does there have to be a reason?
MsRanaDee
Does there have to be a reason?
MsRanaDee

I walked away because I had a bus to catch. 

MsRanaDee
(Un)carved
Winnefred Sharp
(Un)carved
Winnefred Sharp

This photography came to my mind during one of my ceramics classes.

Winnefred Sharp
The Structure of a Breakdown: My Experiences as an Aroace Trans Person as Told Through Poetry
Roman Todd
The Structure of a Breakdown: My Experiences as an Aroace Trans Person as Told Through Poetry
Roman Todd

Cut off, cut out of me

These organs that curse me!

Roman Todd
Self Expression
Love, Builder of Worlds
Self Expression
Love, Builder of Worlds

Little girl. Listen.  

Love, Builder of Worlds
Choosing A Gender

Choosing A Gender

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