On sex, gender and pronouns

[scaletipping]

I wanted to address the subject of gender, particularly in regard to the usage of pronouns, as that effects the other muns and can be a rather sensitive subject.

Ginshu does not have a sex. He was born male but due to some heart-breaking backstory, he no longer has any bits at all, male or female. This, combined with the fact that his position as a priestess requires him to crossdress makes for a very confusing cornucopia of pronouns.

Ultimately, I believe Ginshu to identify as male. When people in canon address him as female, it is either because they are addressing him as the Ginshu, rather than the man himself, or because they are Bonten and they are trying to be an asshole. It is his job to present himself as female. It’s a role, a title, not an orientation or personal identification. If he was not in the position of ‘holy princess’, he wouldn’t involve himself with female pronouns at all.

The (pitifully small) number of people who consider him to be a person rather than a symbol address him with masculine speech. Most notably of course is Shinshu, who calls him "oniichan." He tells her that she should call him "anechan" but she persists, addressing him rather than the person he is supposed to represent.

There is a very clear division between the role Ginshu is supposed to fill, and the man himself filling it. I think it’s important to acknowledge and maintain that line, if for no other reason than out of respect of players for whom correct pronoun usage is a sensitive subject.

In game, Ginshu’s internal monologue as well as his pronouns in prose will be male, as that is how he regards himself. When approached by other characters, he will present himself as female, as he is still Ginshu, and that is his role. If he’s asked point-blank what his gender is, he will either evade the question or answer that he is neither. In canon, when Kon and Toki first meet Ginshu, they say they can’t tell if Ginshu is a man or a woman, and the curiosity was getting to them. Ginshu responds by flashing them, and when they ask if he was male or female to begin with, he says that he’ll leave that to their imaginations.

In game! Your character is welcome to ask him about it, as he's neither shy nor easily embarrassed. He won't be offended (though you're welcome to try!). He will answer to either female or male pronouns, though given the correct build up and context, he may tease another character for how they treat him as a “princess.”

I understand that this is perhaps needlessly confusing, and I do apologize! But I believe this manner to be the most true to the canon. If you have any questions or concerns about the subject or how I'm handling it, please feel free to hit me up to dialogue about it!