I am autistic and what this means in practice is that there are some things
practice is that there are some things
practice is that there are some things that are easier for me than they are for
that are easier for me than they are for
that are easier for me than they are for most people and a great many things that
most people and a great many things that
most people and a great many things that are somewhat harder and these affect my
are somewhat harder and these affect my
are somewhat harder and these affect my life in more or less overt ways as it
life in more or less overt ways as it
life in more or less overt ways as it goes I’m pretty lucky I’ve been able to
goes I’m pretty lucky I’ve been able to
goes I’m pretty lucky I’ve been able to build a career around special interests
build a career around special interests
build a career around special interests and granular obsession my main gig at
and granular obsession my main gig at
and granular obsession my main gig at the moment is explaining superhero
the moment is explaining superhero
the moment is explaining superhero comics continuity and publishing history
comics continuity and publishing history
comics continuity and publishing history for which work I am somehow paid an
for which work I am somehow paid an
for which work I am somehow paid an actual legal currency which is both a
actual legal currency which is both a
actual legal currency which is both a triumph of the frivolous in an era of
triumph of the frivolous in an era of
triumph of the frivolous in an era of the frantically pragmatic and a job
the frantically pragmatic and a job
the frantically pragmatic and a job that’s really singularly suited to my
that’s really singularly suited to my
that’s really singularly suited to my strengths and also to my idiosyncrasies
strengths and also to my idiosyncrasies
strengths and also to my idiosyncrasies I like comics I like stories in general
I like comics I like stories in general
I like comics I like stories in general because they make sense to me in ways
because they make sense to me in ways
because they make sense to me in ways that the rest of the world and my own
that the rest of the world and my own
that the rest of the world and my own mind often don’t self-knowledge is not
mind often don’t self-knowledge is not
mind often don’t self-knowledge is not an intuitive thing for me what sense of
an intuitive thing for me what sense of
an intuitive thing for me what sense of self I have I’ve built gradually and
self I have I’ve built gradually and
self I have I’ve built gradually and laborious ly and mostly through long
laborious ly and mostly through long
laborious ly and mostly through long term pattern recognition for decades I
term pattern recognition for decades I
term pattern recognition for decades I didn’t even really have a self-image if
didn’t even really have a self-image if
didn’t even really have a self-image if you’d asked me to draw myself I would
you’d asked me to draw myself I would
you’d asked me to draw myself I would eventually have given you a pair of
eventually have given you a pair of
eventually have given you a pair of glasses and maybe a very messy scribble
glasses and maybe a very messy scribble
glasses and maybe a very messy scribble of hair and that would have been about
of hair and that would have been about
of hair and that would have been about it but what I do know backwards forwards
it but what I do know backwards forwards
it but what I do know backwards forwards and in pretty much every way that
and in pretty much every way that
and in pretty much every way that matters our stories I know how they work
matters our stories I know how they work
matters our stories I know how they work I understand their language their
I understand their language their
I understand their language their complex inner clockwork and
I can use those things to extrapolate a
I can use those things to extrapolate a sort of external compass that picks up
sort of external compass that picks up
sort of external compass that picks up where my internal one falls short
where my internal one falls short
where my internal one falls short stories their forms their structure the
stories their forms their structure the
stories their forms their structure the sense of order inherent to them
sense of order inherent to them
sense of order inherent to them give me the means to navigate what
give me the means to navigate what
give me the means to navigate what otherwise at least for me would be an
otherwise at least for me would be an
otherwise at least for me would be an impassable storm of unpossible data or
impassable storm of unpossible data or
impassable storm of unpossible data or stories are a periscope angled to access
stories are a periscope angled to access
stories are a periscope angled to access the parts of myself I can’t intuitively
the parts of myself I can’t intuitively
the parts of myself I can’t intuitively see or stories are a series of mirrors
see or stories are a series of mirrors
see or stories are a series of mirrors by which I can assemble a composite
by which I can assemble a composite
by which I can assemble a composite sketch of an identity I rarely
sketch of an identity I rarely
sketch of an identity I rarely recognized hull which is how I worked
recognized hull which is how I worked
recognized hull which is how I worked out that I was transgender
out that I was transgender
out that I was transgender in my early 30s by way of a television
in my early 30s by way of a television
in my early 30s by way of a television show this is my story and it’s about
show this is my story and it’s about
show this is my story and it’s about narrative cartography and representation
narrative cartography and representation
narrative cartography and representation and why those things matter
and why those things matter
and why those things matter it’s about autism and it’s about gender
it’s about autism and it’s about gender
it’s about autism and it’s about gender and it’s about how they intersect and
and it’s about how they intersect and
and it’s about how they intersect and it’s about the kinds of people we know
it’s about the kinds of people we know
it’s about the kinds of people we know how to see and the kinds of people we
how to see and the kinds of people we
how to see and the kinds of people we don’t it’s not the kind of story that
don’t it’s not the kind of story that
don’t it’s not the kind of story that gets told a lot that you might hear a
gets told a lot that you might hear a
gets told a lot that you might hear a lot because the narrative around gender
lot because the narrative around gender
lot because the narrative around gender transition in dysphoria in our culture
transition in dysphoria in our culture
transition in dysphoria in our culture is really really prescriptive it’s
is really really prescriptive it’s
is really really prescriptive it’s basically the story of you know the kid
basically the story of you know the kid
basically the story of you know the kid who has known for their whole life that
who has known for their whole life that
who has known for their whole life that they’re this and not that and that story
they’re this and not that and that story
they’re this and not that and that story demands the kind of intuitive
demands the kind of intuitive
demands the kind of intuitive self-knowledge that I can’t really do
self-knowledge that I can’t really do
self-knowledge that I can’t really do and a kind of relationship to gender
and a kind of relationship to gender
and a kind of relationship to gender that I don’t really have which is part
that I don’t really have which is part
that I don’t really have which is part of why it took me so long to figure my
of why it took me so long to figure my
of why it took me so long to figure my own stuff out so to what extent this
own stuff out so to what extent this
own stuff out so to what extent this story my story has a beginning it begins
story my story has a beginning it begins
story my story has a beginning it begins early in 2014 when I published an essay
early in 2014 when I published an essay
early in 2014 when I published an essay titled I see your value now
titled I see your value now
titled I see your value now Asperger’s and the art of allegory and
Asperger’s and the art of allegory and
Asperger’s and the art of allegory and it explored among other things the ways
it explored among other things the ways
it explored among other things the ways that I use narrative and narrative
that I use narrative and narrative
that I use narrative and narrative structures to navigate real life and it
structures to navigate real life and it
structures to navigate real life and it got picked up in a number of fairly
got picked up in a number of fairly
got picked up in a number of fairly prominent places that got linked and I
prominent places that got linked and I
prominent places that got linked and I casually followed the ensuing discussion
casually followed the ensuing discussion
casually followed the ensuing discussion and I was surprised to discover that
and I was surprised to discover that
and I was surprised to discover that readers were fairly assist fairly
readers were fairly assist fairly
readers were fairly assist fairly consistently assuming I was a man now
consistently assuming I was a man now
consistently assuming I was a man now that in itself wasn’t a new experience
that in itself wasn’t a new experience
that in itself wasn’t a new experience for me
for me
for me even though at the time I was writing
even though at the time I was writing
even though at the time I was writing under a very unambiguously female byline
under a very unambiguously female byline
under a very unambiguously female byline it had happened in the letter columns of
it had happened in the letter columns of
it had happened in the letter columns of comics I’d edited it had happened when a
comics I’d edited it had happened when a
comics I’d edited it had happened when a parody Twitter account I’d created went
parody Twitter account I’d created went
parody Twitter account I’d created went viral when I was on staff at Wired I
viral when I was on staff at Wired I
viral when I was on staff at Wired I budgeted for fancy scotch by putting a
budgeted for fancy scotch by putting a
budgeted for fancy scotch by putting a dollar in a box every time a reader
dollar in a box every time a reader
dollar in a box every time a reader responded in a way that made it clear
responded in a way that made it clear
responded in a way that made it clear they were assuming I was a man in in
they were assuming I was a man in in
they were assuming I was a man in in response to an article where my name was
response to an article where my name was
response to an article where my name was clearly visible and then I had to stop
clearly visible and then I had to stop
clearly visible and then I had to stop doing that because it happened so often
doing that because it happened so often
doing that because it happened so often I couldn’t afford to keep it up but in
I couldn’t afford to keep it up but in
I couldn’t afford to keep it up but in all of those cases the context you know
all of those cases the context you know
all of those cases the context you know the reasons were pretty obvious the
the reasons were pretty obvious the
the reasons were pretty obvious the fields I’d worked in the beets I covered
fields I’d worked in the beets I covered
fields I’d worked in the beets I covered they were places where women had had to
they were places where women had had to
they were places where women had had to fight disproportionately hard for
fight disproportionately hard for
fight disproportionately hard for visibility and recognition we live in a
visibility and recognition we live in a
visibility and recognition we live in a culture that assumes a male default so
culture that assumes a male default so
culture that assumes a male default so given a neutral voice and a character
given a neutral voice and a character
given a neutral voice and a character limit most readers will assume a male
limit most readers will assume a male
limit most readers will assume a male author but this was different
author but this was different
author but this was different because this wasn’t just a book I’d
because this wasn’t just a book I’d
because this wasn’t just a book I’d edited it wasn’t a story I’d reported it
edited it wasn’t a story I’d reported it
edited it wasn’t a story I’d reported it was me it was my story and it made me
was me it was my story and it made me
was me it was my story and it made me uncomfortable it got under my skin in
uncomfortable it got under my skin in
uncomfortable it got under my skin in ways that the other stuff really hadn’t
ways that the other stuff really hadn’t
ways that the other stuff really hadn’t and so I did what I do when that happens
and so I did what I do when that happens
and so I did what I do when that happens and I tried to sort of reverse-engineer
and I tried to sort of reverse-engineer
and I tried to sort of reverse-engineer it to look at the conclusions and peel
it to look at the conclusions and peel
it to look at the conclusions and peel them back to see the narratives behind
them back to see the narratives behind
them back to see the narratives behind them and the stories that made them tick
and I started this I started this by
and I started this I started this by going back to the text of the essay and
going back to the text of the essay and
going back to the text of the essay and you know examining it every way I could
you know examining it every way I could
you know examining it every way I could think of looking at craft looking at
think of looking at craft looking at
think of looking at craft looking at content and in doing so I was surprised
content and in doing so I was surprised
content and in doing so I was surprised to realize that while I that I had
to realize that while I that I had
to realize that while I that I had written about a number of characters
written about a number of characters
written about a number of characters with whom I identified closely that
with whom I identified closely that
with whom I identified closely that every single one of those characters I’d
every single one of those characters I’d
every single one of those characters I’d written about was male and that
written about was male and that
written about was male and that surprised me even more than the
surprised me even more than the
surprised me even more than the responses to the essay had because I
responses to the essay had because I
responses to the essay had because I spent my career writing and talking and
spent my career writing and talking and
spent my career writing and talking and thinking about gender and representation
thinking about gender and representation
thinking about gender and representation in popular media in 2014 I’d been the
in popular media in 2014 I’d been the
in popular media in 2014 I’d been the feminist gadfly of an editorial
feminist gadfly of an editorial
feminist gadfly of an editorial department and multiple mastheads
department and multiple mastheads
department and multiple mastheads I’d been a founding board member of an
I’d been a founding board member of an
I’d been a founding board member of an organization that existed to advocate
organization that existed to advocate
organization that existed to advocate for more and better representation of
for more and better representation of
for more and better representation of women and girls in comics characters and
women and girls in comics characters and
women and girls in comics characters and creators and most of my favorite
creators and most of my favorite
creators and most of my favorite characters the ones I’d actively seek
characters the ones I’d actively seek
characters the ones I’d actively seek out and follow were women just not
out and follow were women just not
out and follow were women just not apparently the characters I saw myself
apparently the characters I saw myself
apparently the characters I saw myself in now I still didn’t realize it was me
in now I still didn’t realize it was me
in now I still didn’t realize it was me at this point
at this point
at this point remember self-knowledge not very
remember self-knowledge not very
remember self-knowledge not very intuitive for me and while I had spent a
intuitive for me and while I had spent a
intuitive for me and while I had spent a lot of time thinking about gender I’d
lot of time thinking about gender I’d
lot of time thinking about gender I’d never really bothered to think much
never really bothered to think much
never really bothered to think much about my own I knew
about my own I knew
about my own I knew academically that the way as other
academically that the way as other
academically that the way as other people read and interpreted my gender
people read and interpreted my gender
people read and interpreted my gender affected yet had influenced a lifetime
affected yet had influenced a lifetime
affected yet had influenced a lifetime of Social and professional interactions
of Social and professional interactions
of Social and professional interactions and that those in turn had informed the
and that those in turn had informed the
and that those in turn had informed the person I’d grown up into during that
person I’d grown up into during that
person I’d grown up into during that time but I really believed like I really
time but I really believed like I really
time but I really believed like I really just sort of had in the back of my head
just sort of had in the back of my head
just sort of had in the back of my head that if you peeled away all of that
that if you peeled away all of that
that if you peeled away all of that social conditioning you’d basically end
social conditioning you’d basically end
social conditioning you’d basically end up with what I got when I tried to draw
up with what I got when I tried to draw
up with what I got when I tried to draw a self-portrait so a pair of glasses
a self-portrait so a pair of glasses
a self-portrait so a pair of glasses messy scribble of hair and in this case
messy scribble of hair and in this case
messy scribble of hair and in this case maybe also some very strong opinions
maybe also some very strong opinions
maybe also some very strong opinions about the x-men I mean I knew something
about the x-men I mean I knew something
about the x-men I mean I knew something was off I’d always known something was
was off I’d always known something was
was off I’d always known something was off that my relationship to gender was
off that my relationship to gender was
off that my relationship to gender was messy and uncomfortable but gender
messy and uncomfortable but gender
messy and uncomfortable but gender itself struck me as messy and
itself struck me as messy and
itself struck me as messy and uncomfortable and it had never been a
uncomfortable and it had never been a
uncomfortable and it had never been a large enough part of how I defined
large enough part of how I defined
large enough part of how I defined myself to really feel like something
myself to really feel like something
myself to really feel like something that merited further study and I had
that merited further study and I had
that merited further study and I had deadlines and so it was always on the
deadlines and so it was always on the
deadlines and so it was always on the backburner so I looked I looked at what
backburner so I looked I looked at what
backburner so I looked I looked at what I had at this this improbable group of
I had at this this improbable group of
I had at this this improbable group of exclusively male characters and is
exclusively male characters and is
exclusively male characters and is looked and I figured that if they this
looked and I figured that if they this
looked and I figured that if they this wasn’t me then it had to be a result of
wasn’t me then it had to be a result of
wasn’t me then it had to be a result of the stories I had access to to choose
the stories I had access to to choose
the stories I had access to to choose from and the entertainment landscape I
from and the entertainment landscape I
from and the entertainment landscape I was looking at and the funny thing is I
was looking at and the funny thing is I
was looking at and the funny thing is I wasn’t wrong exactly I just wasn’t right
wasn’t wrong exactly I just wasn’t right
wasn’t wrong exactly I just wasn’t right either see the characters I’d written
either see the characters I’d written
either see the characters I’d written about had one other significant trait in
about had one other significant trait in
about had one other significant trait in common aside from their gender which is
common aside from their gender which is
common aside from their gender which is that they were all more or less
that they were all more or less
that they were all more or less explicitly more or less heavily coded as
explicitly more or less heavily coded as
explicitly more or less heavily coded as autistic and I thought ah yes this
autistic and I thought ah yes this
autistic and I thought ah yes this explains it this is under representation
explains it this is under representation
explains it this is under representation in fiction echoing under representation
in fiction echoing under representation
in fiction echoing under representation in life and vice versa because the
in life and vice versa because the
in life and vice versa because the carrick the characteristics that I’d
carrick the characteristics that I’d
carrick the characteristics that I’d honed in on that I particularly
honed in on that I particularly
honed in on that I particularly identified with in these guys were
identified with in these guys were
identified with in these guys were things like emotional unavailability and
things like emotional unavailability and
things like emotional unavailability and social awkwardness and granular
social awkwardness and granular
social awkwardness and granular obsession and all of those are
obsession and all of those are
obsession and all of those are characteristics that are seen as
characteristics that are seen as
characteristics that are seen as unsympathetic and therefore unmarketable
unsympathetic and therefore unmarketable
unsympathetic and therefore unmarketable in female characters which is also why
in female characters which is also why
in female characters which is also why readers weren’t
readers weren’t
readers weren’t we’re assuming that I was a man because
we’re assuming that I was a man because
we’re assuming that I was a man because you see here’s the thing I’m not the
you see here’s the thing I’m not the
you see here’s the thing I’m not the only one who uses stories to navigate
only one who uses stories to navigate
only one who uses stories to navigate the world I’m just a little more
the world I’m just a little more
the world I’m just a little more deliberate about it for humans stories
deliberate about it for humans stories
deliberate about it for humans stories formed the bridge between data and
formed the bridge between data and
formed the bridge between data and understanding they’re where we look when
understanding they’re where we look when
understanding they’re where we look when we need to contextualise something new
we need to contextualise something new
we need to contextualise something new or to recognize something we’re pretty
or to recognize something we’re pretty
or to recognize something we’re pretty sure we’ve seen before they’re how we
sure we’ve seen before they’re how we
sure we’ve seen before they’re how we identify ourselves they’re how we locate
identify ourselves they’re how we locate
identify ourselves they’re how we locate ourselves and each other
ourselves and each other
ourselves and each other in the larger world there were no
in the larger world there were no
in the larger world there were no fictional women like me there weren’t
fictional women like me there weren’t
fictional women like me there weren’t representations of women like me in
representations of women like me in
representations of women like me in media and so readers were primed not to
media and so readers were primed not to
media and so readers were primed not to recognize women like me in real life
recognize women like me in real life
recognize women like me in real life either now by this point I had started
either now by this point I had started
either now by this point I had started writing a follow-up essay and this one
writing a follow-up essay and this one
writing a follow-up essay and this one was also about autism and narratives but
was also about autism and narratives but
was also about autism and narratives but specifically focused on on how they
specifically focused on on how they
specifically focused on on how they intersected with gender and
intersected with gender and
intersected with gender and representation in media and in context
representation in media and in context
representation in media and in context of this essay I was I I went about
of this essay I was I I went about
of this essay I was I I went about looking to see if I could find even one
looking to see if I could find even one
looking to see if I could find even one female character who had that cluster of
female character who had that cluster of
female character who had that cluster of traits I’d been looking for and I was
traits I’d been looking for and I was
traits I’d been looking for and I was asking around in autistic communities
asking around in autistic communities
asking around in autistic communities and I got a few more or less useful
and I got a few more or less useful
and I got a few more or less useful one-off suggestions and some really
one-off suggestions and some really
one-off suggestions and some really really splendid arguments about
really splendid arguments about
really splendid arguments about semantics and standards and I then I got
semantics and standards and I then I got
semantics and standards and I then I got one one answer over and over and over in
one one answer over and over and over in
one one answer over and over and over in community after community after
community after community after
community after community after community leverage people told me you
community leverage people told me you
community leverage people told me you have to watch leverage so I watched
have to watch leverage so I watched
have to watch leverage so I watched leverage leverage is five seasons of
leverage leverage is five seasons of
leverage leverage is five seasons of ensemble heist drama it’s about a team
ensemble heist drama it’s about a team
ensemble heist drama it’s about a team of very skilled con artists who take
of very skilled con artists who take
of very skilled con artists who take down corrupt and powerful plutocrats and
down corrupt and powerful plutocrats and
down corrupt and powerful plutocrats and the like and it’s a lot of fun and it’s
the like and it’s a lot of fun and it’s
the like and it’s a lot of fun and it’s very clever and it’s clever enough that
very clever and it’s clever enough that
very clever and it’s clever enough that it doesn’t really matter that it’s
it doesn’t really matter that it’s
it doesn’t really matter that it’s pretty formulaic and I enjoyed it a lot
pretty formulaic and I enjoyed it a lot
pretty formulaic and I enjoyed it a lot but what’s most important what leverage
but what’s most important what leverage
but what’s most important what leverage has is Parker Parker is a master thief
has is Parker Parker is a master thief
has is Parker Parker is a master thief and she is the best of the best of the
and she is the best of the best of the
and she is the best of the best of the best in ways that all of leverages
best in ways that all of leverages
best in ways that all of leverages characters are the best of the best and
superficially she looks like the kind of
superficially she looks like the kind of woman you see on TV so she’s young and
woman you see on TV so she’s young and
woman you see on TV so she’s young and she’s slender and she’s blonde and she’s
she’s slender and she’s blonde and she’s
she’s slender and she’s blonde and she’s attractive but in a sort of approachable
attractive but in a sort of approachable
attractive but in a sort of approachable way and all of that familiarity is
way and all of that familiarity is
way and all of that familiarity is brilliant misdirection because the thing
brilliant misdirection because the thing
brilliant misdirection because the thing is there are no other women like Parker
is there are no other women like Parker
is there are no other women like Parker on TV because Parker even if it’s never
on TV because Parker even if it’s never
on TV because Parker even if it’s never explicitly stated in the show Parker is
explicitly stated in the show Parker is
explicitly stated in the show Parker is coded incredibly clearly as autistic
coded incredibly clearly as autistic
coded incredibly clearly as autistic Parker is socially awkward her speech
Parker is socially awkward her speech
Parker is socially awkward her speech tends to have limited inflection what
tends to have limited inflection what
tends to have limited inflection what inflection it does have is repetitive
inflection it does have is repetitive
inflection it does have is repetitive and sounds rehearsed a lot of the time
and sounds rehearsed a lot of the time
and sounds rehearsed a lot of the time she’s not emotionally literate she
she’s not emotionally literate she
she’s not emotionally literate she struggles with it and the social skills
struggles with it and the social skills
struggles with it and the social skills she develops over the series she learns
she develops over the series she learns
she develops over the series she learns by rote like they’re just another grift
by rote like they’re just another grift
by rote like they’re just another grift when she’s not scaling skyscrapers or
when she’s not scaling skyscrapers or
when she’s not scaling skyscrapers or cartwheeling through laser grids she
cartwheeling through laser grids she
cartwheeling through laser grids she wears her body like an ill-fitting suit
wears her body like an ill-fitting suit
wears her body like an ill-fitting suit Parker moves like me and Parker Parker
Parker moves like me and Parker Parker
Parker moves like me and Parker Parker was a revelation she was its revolution
was a revelation she was its revolution
was a revelation she was its revolution unto herself in a media landscape where
unto herself in a media landscape where
unto herself in a media landscape where unequivocally exist to either be
unequivocally exist to either be
unequivocally exist to either be punished or a loved hole Parker got to
punished or a loved hole Parker got to
punished or a loved hole Parker got to play the crabby savant and she wasn’t
play the crabby savant and she wasn’t
play the crabby savant and she wasn’t emotionally intuitive but it was never
emotionally intuitive but it was never
emotionally intuitive but it was never ever played as the product of abuse or
ever played as the product of abuse or
ever played as the product of abuse or trauma even though she had survived both
trauma even though she had survived both
trauma even though she had survived both of those it was just part of her as much
of those it was just part of her as much
of those it was just part of her as much as work her hands or her eyes and she
as work her hands or her eyes and she
as work her hands or her eyes and she had a genuine character arc my god she
had a genuine character arc my god she
had a genuine character arc my god she had a genuine romantic arc even
had a genuine romantic arc even
had a genuine romantic arc even and none of that required her to turn
and none of that required her to turn
and none of that required her to turn into anything other than what she was
into anything other than what she was
into anything other than what she was and in Parker I recognized a thousand
and in Parker I recognized a thousand
and in Parker I recognized a thousand tics and details of my life and my
tics and details of my life and my
tics and details of my life and my personality but I didn’t recognize
personality but I didn’t recognize
personality but I didn’t recognize myself why what what difference was was
myself why what what difference was was
myself why what what difference was was there in Parker you know between Parker
there in Parker you know between Parker
there in Parker you know between Parker and the other characters I’d written
and the other characters I’d written
and the other characters I’d written about those characters they’d spent
about those characters they’d spent
about those characters they’d spent ethnicities and backgrounds and
ethnicities and backgrounds and
ethnicities and backgrounds and different media and appearances and the
different media and appearances and the
different media and appearances and the only other characteristic they all had
only other characteristic they all had
only other characteristic they all had in common was their gender so that was
in common was their gender so that was
in common was their gender so that was where I started to look next and I
where I started to look next and I
where I started to look next and I thought well okay maybe maybe it’s
thought well okay maybe maybe it’s
thought well okay maybe maybe it’s masculinity maybe if Parker were less
masculinity maybe if Parker were less
masculinity maybe if Parker were less feminine she’d click with me the way
feminine she’d click with me the way
feminine she’d click with me the way those other characters had so Jan I
those other characters had so Jan I
those other characters had so Jan I tried to imagine a Parker with short
tried to imagine a Parker with short
tried to imagine a Parker with short hair who’s explicitly butch and nothing
hair who’s explicitly butch and nothing
hair who’s explicitly butch and nothing so okay I extended it and what seems
so okay I extended it and what seems
so okay I extended it and what seems like the only logical direction to
like the only logical direction to
like the only logical direction to extended I said well if it’s not
extended I said well if it’s not
extended I said well if it’s not masculinity what if it’s actual maleness
masculinity what if it’s actual maleness
masculinity what if it’s actual maleness what if Parker were a man yeah
in the end everything changed and
in the end everything changed and nothing changed which is often the way
nothing changed which is often the way
nothing changed which is often the way that it goes for me adilyn mark no
that it goes for me adilyn mark no
that it goes for me adilyn mark no matter how slight and the math is a
matter how slight and the math is a
matter how slight and the math is a rebek ibly altered at a landmark and
rebek ibly altered at a landmark and
rebek ibly altered at a landmark and paths that were invisible before open
paths that were invisible before open
paths that were invisible before open wide add a landmark and you may not have
wide add a landmark and you may not have
wide add a landmark and you may not have moved but suddenly you know where you
moved but suddenly you know where you
moved but suddenly you know where you are and where you can go I wasn’t going
are and where you can go I wasn’t going
are and where you can go I wasn’t going to tell this story when I started
to tell this story when I started
to tell this story when I started planning this talk I was gonna tell a
planning this talk I was gonna tell a
planning this talk I was gonna tell a similar story it was about it was about
similar story it was about it was about
similar story it was about it was about stories like this is about narratives
stories like this is about narratives
stories like this is about narratives and the ways that they influenced our
and the ways that they influenced our
and the ways that they influenced our culture and vice versa and it’s centered
culture and vice versa and it’s centered
culture and vice versa and it’s centered around a group of women at NASA who had
around a group of women at NASA who had
around a group of women at NASA who had basically rewritten the narrative around
basically rewritten the narrative around
basically rewritten the narrative around space exploration and it was a lot more
space exploration and it was a lot more
space exploration and it was a lot more fun and I still think it was more
fun and I still think it was more
fun and I still think it was more interesting but it’s also a story you
interesting but it’s also a story you
interesting but it’s also a story you can probably work out for yourselves
can probably work out for yourselves
can probably work out for yourselves in fact it’s story some of you probably
in fact it’s story some of you probably
in fact it’s story some of you probably have if you follow that kind of thing
have if you follow that kind of thing
have if you follow that kind of thing which you probably do given that you’re
which you probably do given that you’re
which you probably do given that you’re here and this is a story this my story
here and this is a story this my story
here and this is a story this my story is not a story that I like to tell it’s
is not a story that I like to tell it’s
is not a story that I like to tell it’s not a fun story to talk about because
not a fun story to talk about because
not a fun story to talk about because it’s very personal and I am a very
it’s very personal and I am a very
it’s very personal and I am a very private person and it’s not universal
private person and it’s not universal
private person and it’s not universal and it’s not always relatable and it’s
and it’s not always relatable and it’s
and it’s not always relatable and it’s definitely not aspirational and it’s not
definitely not aspirational and it’s not
definitely not aspirational and it’s not the kind of story that you tend to
the kind of story that you tend to
the kind of story that you tend to encounter unless you’re already part of
encounter unless you’re already part of
encounter unless you’re already part of it which is why I’m telling it now
it which is why I’m telling it now
it which is why I’m telling it now because the thing is I’m not the only
because the thing is I’m not the only
because the thing is I’m not the only person who uses stories to parse the
person who uses stories to parse the
person who uses stories to parse the world and navigate it I’m just a little
world and navigate it I’m just a little
world and navigate it I’m just a little more deliberate because I’m tired of
more deliberate because I’m tired of
more deliberate because I’m tired of having to rely on composite sketches
open your maps add a landmark
open your maps add a landmark reroute accordingly
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
you
you [Music]
”
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