If the Underground were populated by humans and a slime monster were to fall to the Underground, what pronouns would humans use for the slime monster? Because monster gender is an abstract concept for humans, I would imagine humans would default to they/them pronouns for the fallen slime monster out of sheer simplicity. Let me explain.Īs a counterexample to that sentiment, I imagine the situation reversed. But knowing how sparse monster info on humans is, I don’t see this as a very rigid rule with which to determine Frisk’s gender. Many people use this as justification for Frisk being canonically nonbinary, and try to use this to shut down discussion. So, we know that several monsters refer to Frisk with they/them pronouns. Another important note: We also know that monsters’ information on humans is limited, and often straight up inaccurate- see Alphys’s “history books” as a blatant example of this. Sans often mentions when Frisk appears bored or impatient, and several monsters remark on Frisk’s kindness or cruelty, depending on the actions taken by the player. However, a lot of what we know about Frisk can be determined by the actions of monsters. We don’t know anything about Frisk’s relations with other humans, or how humans might approach Frisk, and Frisk’s hypothetical reaction to them. But we don’t know why Frisk fell to the Underground. We know Frisk goes on a date with Papyrus and Alphys, and flirts with a lots of people in the Underground. Ebott and fell to the Underground, and sought to escape. I don’t think it necessarily has to be nonbinary erasure, though! I think there is room within Undertale canon to allow for nuanced portrayals of Frisk’s gender, and that spewing vitriol who think this way is not productive, nor is it in the spirit of Undertale.įirst, it’s important to keep in mind how little we truly know about Frisk. Such discussions seem to be an endless clash between the people who like to imagine Frisk with a gender, and the people who see this as nonbinary erasure. It’s rather an attempt to stem the flow of vitriol that inevitably follows any discussion of Frisk’s gender. Frisk’s haircut is one worn by girls and boys There is ample reason to believe Frisk is nonbinary, and I don’t fault anyone for that! It’s a position that’s very easy to defend.Ĭonsequently, the point of this post is not to argue that Frisk must be gendered that would be a position that would be difficult, if not impossible to defend. Frisk is referred to by they/them pronouns, not to mention equips both a Manly Bandanna and a Tutu/Ballet slippers over the course of the game, and has a shirt with both pink (feminine) and blue (masculine)stripes besides. Please spare both of us that, lol)įor starters, I want to make something clear: The people who claim Frisk is nonbinary have a very good case for doing so.
(Otherwise I’ll just refute you by posting quotes of what I already said and it will be a bad time. If you want to fight me on that stance, I welcome your views! I only ask that you please read the entirety of this post first. IN THIS TOPIC I intend to pose that people who gender Frisk are not inherently transphobic, and that gendering Frisk is not inherently nonbinary erasure. ALRIGHT! I’ve seen a lot of people fighting over Frisk’s gender in my days of Undertale fandom-ing, so this is me throwing my hat into the fray along with my two cents.