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scarsmood · 8 months

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Otherkinity and misogyny

Read time 10-15 min

I have taken some time to sit and think about this topic for quite some time. Let's look at some sterotypes i'm sure you've seen this meme:

Meme can be found here

Credit @pupvi

I think it posses a good question about why this is so prevalent. Why are there so many either edgy or very cutesy otherkin blogs with seemingly no inbetween? How come there seems to be a prevalence for popular blogs to be darker in canine circles? Is this true for other spheres?

This is a result I see most in canine circles and less in others like paleotherians or dragons. Which i think is fascinating. I think it's because dogs and all canines have very strong roles in several different cultures which in turn makes them have a sociological pressure to fill these roles. I think this is a result of being a human bodied animal where we interact with human based concepts all the time and in turn intertwine them with our own beliefs even if they aren't 'technically' how an animal may act.

Interestingly in a paper i was reading, it suggested that the post modernity life style humans live currently is pretty divorced from animals. Humans dont see animals as in the same group as them. With otherkinity being an exception. This wasn't always the case either. In far earlier civilizations animals could be tried for crimes and considered in law. I think the current view humans have of animals is a result of this divorce from them. We have romanticized them and see them as a mythical or archetypical figure rather than one of us.

For example dogs in western culture we have a few concepts: The dog is a protector, the dog is friend and loyal companion, the dog is a mother or caregiver. This results in a pressure for those ideals to be intertwined with who we are. It's difficult to be a dog and grow up with these ideas all around you and not latch onto them. I don't think it's a surprise. Ironically i think this makes a sort of weird mimicry for otherkin experiences we want to be animals as closely as possible but a lot of people in the community are not in a place where they can access wilderness freely. Let alone understand it free from human allegories or symbology.

I don't think were failing as animals either for playing into these human made roles. They are unique to the human bodied experience and I think that should be cherished. I think otherkin may be some of the few human bodied individuals still looking for true connection with nature. I think interestingly we can be advocates and be a gateway for other humans to understand nature more.

We circle back to misogyny which is a result of human made roles. Misogyny plays a role into how we identify based on what humans consider to be masculine and feminine. This is dependent on culture. Some cultures share similar ideals about animals while others may differ. Which means animals can be assigned masculine or feminine based on innate traits about them. This in turn effects how we perceive each other due to our background and culture.

Misogyny is silent at times and the oppression of femininty is present still. As an undertone to otherkinity masculine kintypes may be taken more seriously. Wolves, dragons, predators, ect while feminine animals may be suppressed or seen less often. Cats, bunnies, prey animals. This isn't always true in every case just as a general trend.

I dont think this is on purpose. Rather an unconscious leaning towards masucline things to be more "real" and "realness" used to be very important within otherkin and (mainly) therian communities. Which is ironically also a trait of toxic masculinity. I think some aspects of how we perceive and want to be perceived makes impacts on our blogs.

Tumblr specifically relies a lot on aesthetic typically blogs that have a strong aesthetic may be seen as more appealing compared to something that's more barebones. With masculine leaning blogs about darker tones, gore, trauma, they tend to do very well in receiving attention. Both from a strong aesthetic and that subliminal leaning. I think there is an audience for softcore and plushcore blogs but mixing it with otherkinity seems to be uncommon unlike darker blogs.

I think it comes down to we see those gritty blogs as what aligns with masculinity and what is more credible and real. With a previous and slowly dying down culture of what is considered "real" otherkinity and what isn't this leaves a leaning on gritty darker blogs seeming to have a better reach. I think this lean is a ghost of what was almost a decade ago in the otherkin community.

This leads into my experience. I've had my blog for about 3 years now and started it by writing dark, gritty poems. Sometimes almost everyday. I know of other blogs that started roughly the same time as me but didn't result in the same amount of reach. I partly wonder if the daily activity and the combinations of cryptid/ dark aesthetic being more popular back then contributed to the attention I got in the beginning. All i did was write poems (for the most part) and still received a decent amount of attention / followers.

What I was expecting less was seeing my identity shift from my original 'design' or appearance into the red woods threatening wolf. The first thing I noticed in that transition was that I couldn't heavily identify with wolves anymore. After learning about my species more and actually fully accepting that it was matriarchal over patriarchal it left me feeling more lost compared to the typical otherkin experience. (Wolf dominated in most spaces i was in) My experience didn't feel as validating and I was left looking for something more from the community.

I was not aware at the time this would be a more major shift in how I would be treated to. Threatening wolves have ranks and learning I am cogmol which is the smallest, meekest and most disposable. I was sitting in a place that was equated with feminity suddenly. I wasn't sure how to process it so I just didn't. I accepted that was my role and moved on.

Over the year or two since I shifted my identity I do feel as though i'm not quite on the same level as others at times. I read about some experiences about other interactions in the community and feel at times I get different reactions just cause I either can't relate to the power exchange socially or because people see me differently after they learn about me.

This gets more emphasized when deer alters front who will (were planning at least) for them to front more frequently. Which means more deer content and deer identity. However that also means giving up being a threatening wolf as the main identity. The shift may take awhile but already they comment a bit that it's going to take some effort to find a community.

There isn't a very big deer community in otherkin tumblr circles. It was a bit of a struggle finding the paleokin community but it does exist at least. Deer feel like they fell off the face of the earth. It might be more beneficial to look at furry communities for deer fursonas first and then find people through that instead.

When my deer alters front they note a sense of being seen as weak or easily killable, prey, ect. Lots of predator prey interactions that do not favor the prey. While there are some blogs like poppy whose a bison. They don't feel like they quite fit in the same category as most of our alters are deer esc with typical attributes related to beauty and femininity. Thin, skinny, and 'dainty' seeming.

While most are male some are female and do not even want to exist around the community in fear of having to deal with some less tasteful people. It's no surprise deer are associated with meekness and gentle attributes which leads to some rough experiences. In the beginning of my therian journey I identified as both a wolf and a female deer. I was quickly tossed around verbally for being a deer so bad that within a day or two at best i completely dropped that aspect of myself.

I wonder if this is still an issue today. I'd love to hear other peoples experiences on it since i'm just starting to explore the deerkin community and only on and off make posts about it. I'm hoping eventually i'll learn more but for now i'm far and away from other deerkin I think.

The best way I think to curb this behavior is to participate in other communities and create more diverse cultures. Lots of otherkin are punk, anarchists, goth, pagan and the list goes on. Making more diverse aesthetics may give people the space to feel more comfortable showing more vulnerable aspects of themselves.

Sometimes newbies are driven off from intimidation from the community I think keeping on track and being more chill with what's acceptable and how to express yourself helps a lot.

Overall, I think this is something that's kinda there. It has just enough impact to kind of make other more feminine identities skirt away. It's annoying but I think if people (me included) do a some tonal shifting if they feel inclinded to do so will help make the community feel more diverse and safe.

#otherkin #therian #essay #werewolfkin #dogkin #deerkin #alterhuman #demonkin #dragonkin #catkin

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britishsass · 2 years

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I'm curious about the three bots you talked about do you mind explaining it to us more and draw them?

YES YES YES

Thank you anon I needed that reminder!!

To start off with: They already have names! The one Ford and Cassie are with is named Turing. The one with Compton and Helmut is Lovelace. And the one over with Bob and Lucy is Winograd, but I'll mostly be calling it Win-0 for ease.

Let's get into depth on these bots!!

TURING

(He/It pronouns)

To start off with, my inspiration for Turing's appearance is both Mo from Wall-E and Gir from Invader Zim. Turing is a small little guy and I love him so much.

He’s got the same big head and big eyes as GIR. Very cutesy sorta fellow.

Mo is this little dude, and I’m taking inspiration from the bottom half for that idea.

To quote my notes: “Turing is a pretty simple, first-string machine. It's designed to be a good buddy and a bit of a drone worker, so there's a lot like it around. Machines like Turing are found mainly on the red line, since that's where the most movement is needed. He looks like you'd expect machinery from Otto to look-- Retro futuristic, silvers and a tinge of color for style.”

My sketch really quick of how I view him is this:

As you can tell, he’s a really small guy-- About the size of Dogen or the llike. The hat is still up for debate, but he’s mostly silver with a little bit of red, and he definitely has claw hands.

LOVELACE

(It/she/them pronouns)

My inspiration for how Lovelace looks is very likely based on the game I recently played, Tangle Tower. Specifically, Flora Fellow and Penny Pointer.

Flora has one specific animation I’d like to reference: Her hair animation.

She’s nowhere near as grim as Flora, though, so another character I reference for her appearance is Penny.

So, y’know-- As you can tell, she’s very flowy. Another thing I’d reference is fashion mannequins-- Though I’m not sure why. I don’t really know how to design her as well as the other two, to be honest...

My notes: “Lovelace is found on the green line, and is wearing flowing cloth. This model is frequently used to understand motion, plans, and to guide people through the museum. Lovelace can be overprotective of Otto. Even so, it does relax with the help of Helmut and Compton, and it shows them the real issues. This one is more electrical based, and it tends to move Very Fast around the place-- Helped by the monorails everywhere found by the green line.”

...To be honest, I’m really bad at drawing her, but I wanted to keep the electricity vibes throughout. More like 0tt0 in Cosmignon’s ideas, with metal hair like mail clerk fordbot. Mitten hands for sure.

WINOGRAD

(It/them pronouns)

Win-0′s appearance is a lot harder for me to nail down the inspirations, but I know a couple places I get it from. First off, Hugo Cabret.

I just really like a good clockwork automaton, y’know?

Another reference is the steampunk aesthetic of things. Win-0 is very steampunk in appearance, and might even appear a little like Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast-- Short and stout, but very clearly not amused with these guys.

Another of the references I think I’m clearly leaning towards is an old book I read as a kid-- The Clockwork Three.

That clear steampunk look, and the gears, and all that.

You could also say it’s referencing Steam-Powered Giraffe. Mostly with the brass goggles part, hehe.

My notes: “Winograd, or Win-0, is designed with a heavy emphasis on sight, and has brass goggles. Win-0 can be heavily judgemental of others, but it's one of a kind, designed with a more... clockwork focus. Win-0 is found on the blue line.”

Win-0 is one I can see very clearly, but... I actually can’t draw them, since I lack that ability. I wish I could, but... Nope. It ain’t coming to me. Sorry u_u;;

Thanks for asking about them! I’m happy to talk, though it might include a little bit of spoilers for my future ideas.

#anon #ask response #turing lovelace and win-0 #nightmare obdlc #obdlc #Psychonauts mental ocs #i love my idiot robots #the owl draws

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