-Uh...wasn't I supposed to call Anlina "he" yesterday?
-Zir is going through their Gender trial...
-I ...see. What is that?
This is a ritual that is common in settlements with many
Dragons as they are hatched without a biological sex. Being shapeshifters they proclaim their gender and sex during the
Maturity Ceremony. But before that, during their Gender Trials, they try out all combinations that they are inclined to. In the settlements of
Korda and
Zarinth even the kids who aren't dragons partake in the ritual.
EXECUTION
When a youngster turns
12-14 years old they are expected to start "finding themselves" by trying to live as the genders and sexes that they might be. They have around 10 years to figure out what gender and sex they are until the
Maturity Ceremony.
Gender and sex conventions are different in different settlements.
This coming-of-age ritual is casual in its execution and there are no specific things that a youngster has to do other than trying to live in different gender and sex conventions of their settlement.
A person pledges their life to a
House or Order during the maturity ceremony as well as proclaim their gender and pronouns. While the pledge to a House or Order is for life, the proclamation of a gender and pronouns aren't. In some settlements, it can be hard to get pronouns changed legally, but it's always possible.
BIAS
Parents of non-dragon species can be expecting certain outcomes of their child's Gender Trials and be personally upset at the outcome. However, in settlements with predominantly dragons, any outside show of such opinions will be frowned upon.
Among some small groups of conservative dragons, nonbinary people are seen as childish, since dragons do not have any biological sex at birth. They usually also have the same beliefs about asexuals and aromantics.
This would make our world so much easier. Just chose for yourself!
Well, it's not a choice, you are who you are. Sometimes it can just take time to realize who you are...and sometimes you need help....but yeah. XD <3