Berkeley High School senior Ty Walthall says, “Especially as someone who previously struggled with[gender]dysphoria, I hardly feel it anymore.” It affirmed my gender identity and made me feel more comfortable with my body and who I am.”

Featuring bright clothing and make-up that accentuates her blue-streaked hair, Walsall’s everyday outfit is a vessel for the relationship between gender identity and style.

The fashion world isn’t perfect. Harmful mass production and otherworldly price tags are so entwined that it’s almost impossible to ignore fashion’s tsunami of ethical and social issues. Despite such red flags, many still love the creativity and expression it offers. It’s a way of showing how people feel about themselves. For many of her BHS students, gender is important to identity and expression.

BHS junior Simone Strader explained that her relationship with fashion has been a consistent source of self-expression that has grown over the years. “I think I have definitely evolved over the years in how I present myself and what I look like…it definitely has to do with finding and growing myself… It definitely has to do with finding yourself and growing.”

For many people, fashion is a convenient and versatile tool for expressing their gender identity. It creates a positive sense of security and helps minimize gender dysphoria. But fashion, in addition to being a vessel for one’s own style, can influence how students are perceived and treated by others. , are students treated differently on days when they dress masculine? The answer is reflected in sexism, homophobia and other forms of prejudice that persist in society. Being judged by others based on how she dresses is a common experience for her Pele Scher-Levin, her freshman year at BHS.

“Because clothing is so stereotyped, being gay may look more gay if you dress feminine and less gay if you dress more masculine,” he said. Scher-Levin added that dressing masculine makes you feel more accepted and respected by men on and off campus.

Similar to Scher-Levin, others have noticed differences in how they are treated and viewed while dressed in a more feminine style. , said that childishness and objectification are undeniable occurrences in our BHS community, both of which become more pronounced when we dress femininely.

Walsall explained that she focuses less on masculinity and femininity, and instead tries to represent queerness.

“Regardless of how I dress, I am definitely treated as a woman,” said Walsall. “People see me as a woman even though I dress very masculine…I have a very strong queer identity. That’s what I’m going for…that’s It’s an important part of how I present myself.”

For so many students, regardless of gender, fashion is a way to express themselves. How people interpret their looks is another story, but at the end of the day, Scher-Levin will always “wear what makes her identity most comfortable.”