ICYMI: Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik feature on the cover of VOGUE’s ‘Gender Fluidity’ issue.
Confused? ‘Cos so is everyone else, seeing as neither Zayn or Gigi are gender fluid.
Gender Diversity, a US-based LGBTI organisation described gender fluidity as “A person may feel they are more female on some days and more male on others, or possibly feel that neither term describes them accurately. Their identity is seen as being gender fluid.”
Gigi and Zayn, a heterosexual couple, have never claimed to be gender fluid, so already people were scratching their heads on the relevance of having them feature on such an important issue.
But, it was what they said about gender fluidity in the magazine that has people really mad.
Firstly, Gigi describes it being “about, like, shapes.”
The feature goes on to describe, “Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik Are Part of a New Generation Embracing Gender Fluidity” mainly because they borrow each others clothes.
“This new blasé attitude toward gender codes marks a radical break. Consider the scene one recent morning out in Montauk, New York, where the photos accompanying this story were shot: Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik snuggle in interchangeable tracksuits as, nearby, Hadid’s younger brother, Anwar, rocks back and forth on a tire swing, his sheer lace top exposing scattered tattoos. For these millennials, at least, descriptives like boy or girl rank pretty low on the list of important qualities—and the way they dress reflects that.”
The feature starts with Gigi: “I shop in your closet all the time, don’t I?” Hadid, 22, flicks a lock of dyed-green hair out of her boyfriend’s eyes as she poses the question.
“Yeah, but same,” replies Malik, 24. “What was that T-shirt I borrowed the other day?” “The Anna Sui?” asks Hadid.
“Yeah,” Malik says. “I like that shirt. And if it’s tight on me, so what? It doesn’t matter if it was made for a girl.” Hadid nods vigorously. “Totally. It’s not about gender. It’s about, like, shapes. And what feels good on you that day. And anyway, it’s fun to experiment. . . .”
O K.
Then Anwar Hadid, who is in the background wearing a mesh shirt joins in on the conversation. May we add, he is also not gender fluid.
“We’re chill!” he says from a picnic table behind them. “People our age, we’re just chill. You can be whoever you want. As long as you’re being yourself.”
It continued…
“If Zayn’s wearing a tight shirt and tight jeans and a big, drapey coat,” Gigi says, “I mean—I’d wear that, too. It’s just about, Do the clothes feel right on you?
“Malik shoots Hadid a tender look and joins the conversation.
“With social media, the world’s gotten very small,” he says, “and it can seem like everyone’s doing the same thing. Gender, whatever—you want to make your own statement. You know? You want to feel distinct.”
Fans, are rightly so, calling the publication and couple out on Twitter…
Yikes.