fandomsandfeminism:

sheathandshear:

fandomsandfeminism:

packbat:

fandomsandfeminism:

anti-collectivism-anti-stupid:

fandomsandfeminism:

“Chevalier d’Éon, was a French diplomat, spy, freemason and soldier who fought in the Seven Years’ War. D’Éon had androgynous physical characteristics and natural abilities as a mimic, good features for a spy. D’Éon appeared publicly as a man and pursued masculine occupations for 49 years, although during that time d’Éon successfully infiltrated the court of Empress Elizabeth of Russia by presenting as a woman. For 33 years, from 1777, d’Éon dressed as a woman, claiming to have been female at birth. Doctors who examined d’Éon’s body after d’Éon’s death discovered that d’Éon would have actually been designated male at birth.”

Can we all talk about this bad ass genderfluid French soldier/spy from the 1700s? Please? 

He presented as a woman for a specific reason. That doesn’t make him gender fluid.

They also lived the rest of their life until death as a woman. They retired from their work in the military and lived  the last years of their life as a woman, collecting a military pension. 

So I don’t know why you think you get to decide that their gender “really” was a cis man?  

Chevaliere d’Eon blackmailed the French government into changing the records to say that she was born female. I’m having a hard time seeing that as anything other than an especially punk rock form of legal transition.

God damn. d’Eon did not fuck around.

Fun fact: she continued to compete in fencing tournaments up into her sixties. There’s some great art of her facing off against opponents.

❤