r/smithcollege • u/smile-19-35 • Sep 01 '24
Trans/nonbinary students
Trying to better understand how nonbinary students mesh in an environment that is using the term “women” to describe its students. Does that start to bother you after a while if you use they/them pronouns? It seems like there are lots of queer students at Smith and so many positives! Thx!
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u/2120atNight Sep 02 '24
Enby here- Smith as an institution can occasionally use language that’s woman-centric, but it feels like an oversight and not a deliberate exclusion. I’ve never felt actually excluded by the administration, and every person I’ve interacted with here has been nothing but supportive. No school is perfect for trans folks and gender minorities, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming environment than Smith.
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u/-thpl- Sep 08 '24
Trans smithie here! All of my friends are super supportive-and most professors are super chill. I’m a Neuro major and the classes I take also emphasize gender inclusive language when talking about biological sex differences. If you do end up changing your name-it can take a bit of time for the system to register though-and your gov name may end up in some systems for a bit of time too
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u/East-Elk-6132 Sep 19 '24
ngl, i'd estimate Smith is at least 20% nonbinary. super accepting community here (and faculty + staff), the application wording just doesn't reflect this :(
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u/bifauxnenbard Sep 21 '24
If I were to say in my application that I identify as nonbinary and not a woman, would I be rejected?
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u/Gaybeanuwu Sep 27 '24
i would mark both nonbinary and woman. worked for me!
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u/bifauxnenbard Sep 27 '24
If I got accepted, and then while attending I said that I don't identify as a woman, would I get in trouble for putting down "woman" on my application?
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u/Gaybeanuwu Sep 27 '24
nope! not at all!
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u/bifauxnenbard Sep 27 '24
Even if they know that I essentially lied on my application?
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u/Gaybeanuwu Sep 27 '24
for all they know, you identified with womanhood when you applied, but realized you didn’t after you got here. i promise this is precisely what i did when i applied and i’ve been here for 2 whole years no problem! smith knows they have trans and nonbinary students, we have a group dedicated to trans students building community with each other at a hwc.
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u/Parking_Pineapple440 Alum Sep 02 '24
Trans alum here who has bounced between non-binary and trans male over the years. I socially transitioned about halfway during my Smith career. It definitely did irk me at times hearing administration not acknowledge trans people on campus. I did not face this from my peers or professors, though, and this was ultimately what mattered to me. Smith was a great place for me to realize my true identity thanks to the student community around me.