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The 2nd option isn't bad AgentApple Send a noteboard - 15/11/2021 09:07:07 AM

WoT happens in a medieval/Renaissance-like setting, where there is no gender-reassignment therapy nor psychiatrics. In such a world contemporary trans-people would grow up as gay or lesbian or plain cisgendered or repressed. Whatever they be, it won't be acknowledged as trans.

Of course you could say even if people are not identified by a licensed psychiatrist, they still may have gender-dysphoria, and it is only societal pressures who force them to adopt an assumed identity.

But maybe the ingrained assumed identity is enough to direct the connection to the one power ? Perhaps with an added block similar to Nynaeve's anger block. Perhaps forcing them to tap into the hated gender-conforming part of their personality.

If not, and we assume only the contemporary true-to-self identity matters, then what about non-binary individuals ?

They tap both halves ? But that's over-powered.
They tap none ? Makes them crippled.
Randomly tap just one of them ? Denies their identity.

IMHO it breaks the magic system.

As a compromise, you could have the Forsaken say something about how in the Age of Legends gender-reassignment using the One Power was a thing. Maybe change it so Balthamel is Aran'gar from the get go, and doesn't die in the Eye. That way you can also preserve the Egwene headaches plotline.


View original postHave it be that dysphoria/gender questioning prevents the Spark from manifesting. Per RJ, there's no guarantee a channeler born with the spark will have the spark in the next birth. They can be learners. Or vice versa. And he's said that it's very very rare for a learner to stumble onto the Power on their own. So clearly the spark/learner distinction isn't tied to the soul.


View original postHave it be that someone who is trans and has dysphoria usually can learn to use the half of the Power appropriate to their gender expression, but they don't figure it out, usually, because per societal expectation, you only channel the half tied to your birth sex. They rarely explore this, so it's rarely seen, but Moiraine and Siuan, who delved into False Dragon lore deeply because of what they knew, discover that it HAS happened, if very rarely, so they keep an eye out for someone who is female, too, and don't write off the possibility.

Yes, I think this is good. I can envision the Red Ajah gentling men who can tap Saidar as an extra-fuck you to penises.


View original postThe rest of the world, however, assumes it'll be a dude.


View original postI have other alternatives, but I think I'm just going to make a post exploring the various ways RJ's world is very easily molded to a non-gender essentialist view.

This message last edited by AgentApple on 15/11/2021 at 09:10:00 AM
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The 2nd option isn't bad - 15/11/2021 09:07:07 AM 98 Views

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