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#I’m going to put non job related tags to get a little more exposure don’t get rude.
kotsume · 4 years
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my observations as a content creator :) warning: it’s long
if you’re reading this, don’t think too deeply about what i wrote - it’s just my analysis of fan blogs and some fandoms (so it’s all from my perspective). do what you want with this information, and feel free to lmk what you think ;) 
*i tried to include as many anime-applicable blogs as i could remember*
multifandom reblog blogs (ones who track a tag):
@/allanimanga: lots of original content every day. does not reblog from tag anymore bc most members who had that job are inactive. i’m an admin and i’ve been told not to worry about reblogging from the tag, and just make content. has member privilege abuse from certain users; normally you make content for the blog and you get to reblog your stuff over in a 1:1 ratio, but they will just use the blog to promote themselves without contributing. it’s really sad but there’s nothing we can do bc most of the time it’s an admin.
@/animacia: was debating whether or not to put this one. reblogs mainstream anime (sailor moon, studio ghibli) and has a tag, but the tag itself does not seem to be actively used as the most recent post can see tagged for this blog dates back to june 2019 (more than a year ago). it’s an active blog regardless of slow tag activity. 
@/animationsource: active, but very picky? idk man they either do or don’t reblog your stuff. it’s a hit or miss with them. seems to have member privilege abuse/preference (explained up there). not too sure if they have a queue or just reblog sporadically.
@/anisource: active. seems to run on a large, backlogged queue bc their tag is full of stuff that has yet to be reblogged. edits will probably take a while to be reblogged, but they’ll eventually get there! 
@/dailyanime: new blog, but from what i’ve experienced, they will queue it, and your post will be reblogged in 1-3 days (it probably depends on how much is in their queue).
@/fyanimegifs: will reblog your stuff, but they have a very slow queue.
@/graphicsources: not really active; spontaneous at best. don’t count on them to reblog your stuff. 
@/fyeahshoujo: not really active, but not completely inactive.
@/fysportsanime & @/sportsanimedaily: active. seems to have a backlogged queue, but just wait and you’ll be reblogged! it will take some time because there are lots of posts.
@/animangascenery & @/otomokatsuhiro (#oldanimeedit - changes url from time to time? that’s why i included the tag they track): inactive unless a member looks at the tag. in that case, they will most likely reblog the tagged post. typically mass reblogs/queues from the tag every once in a while. 
@/bbelcher & @/fyeahmovies: will reblog ghibli and makoto shinkai stuff. bonus points if you have added a text description to gifs. 80% dependable.
@/filmgifs, @/filmtv, @/stream, @/movie-gifs, etc. (basically big reblog fansites that aren’t anime-oriented, but do reblog mainstream anime movies): 90% chance they will not reblog anything from you if there is no text description. add text descriptions to studio ghibli/makoto shinkai film gifs and make it pretty! use text gradients!! that will increase your chances of being reblogged by them. they don’t reblog seasonal anime.
a note: many creators use tags as a way of reaching a broader audience. it's really helpful for smaller blogs who would like to share their content to others, but do not have the means/numbers to do so. just bc some people don't utilize tags to their full potential, it doesn't mean it isn't useful, so pls don’t try to act superior to those who want more exposure. everyone deserves a chance at getting the attention they deserve for their hard work!
studio ghibli reblog blogs:
@/ghiblisdaily: great. amazing. i love them!! will reblog from you 99.9% of the time. probably the most reliable ghibli blog as of right now. uploads original content
@/fyghibli: used to be good at reblogging from tag, but has gone kind of inactive. i think they’re becoming more active again, but it’s very sporadic.
@/kikisdeliveryservices: they track a variety of studio ghibli related tags, and they do reblog a lot, but i don’t think they’re as consistent as ghiblisdaily. lots of original content.  
@/oh-totoro: not really active, but when they are (and they reblog from you), your activity skyrockets.
@/dailyghibli: not active.
@/daily-ghibli: sometimes active, a little wishy-washy. they seem to be reblogging a little bit more consistently now?
@/princessghibli: not active, but reblogs here and there.
@/ghibligif: a new blog, but decently active. will reblog post from their tracked tag within a day. lots of original content.  
main point: there are many studio ghibli blogs (wayyyy more than i’ve listed here), but only around 3-4 active ones. choose your tags with what you think will give you the best exposure bc if you have too much, tumblr will go “fuck you” and not show your post at all :)
random anime fandoms:
i’ll really only be including ones i’m in, or know a bit about.
haikyuu, bnha, kny, yoi: healthy and very active. content for these fandoms do well even if they’re not in season. has multiple active fan blogs (except for yoi tho - they’re all inactive for the most part).
noragami, ohshc, ons, snk, tg, swnku: active fandoms. edits will do moderately well bc most people have seen these. 
popular sports anime (knb, free, dna, tsurune? idk i don’t watch much sports anime): they do okay. i rarely see any new sports anime edits beside haikyuu, but people do love their sports anime. has active sports fan blogs.
pokemon & sailor moon: old but gold. lots of people love these anime bc it’s part of their childhood. still very popular amongst tumblr users.
violet evergarden: does moderately well. @/fyeahvioletevergarden will reblog your stuff if you choose to tag them (big boost)! with the new movie coming up soon, there may be a resurgence in activity, but the most recent movie did not have much content made for it, so that hope may be crushed.
tpn: not very active, but with the new season coming up soon, there will be a resurgence in activity.
ditf: kind of dead, but lots of people love zero two. edits do moderately well.
sao: dead. absolutely dead. i thought there would be some activity bc it’s in season right now, but no, it’s a dead fandom. low key sao sucks tho. idek where the plot is going; i’m just hoping for an end.
hxh, one piece, fma, code geass: i’m not in it, but i think they do okay bc they have a large following, just not as well as haikyuu or bnha (but they’re still very popular). it depends on your blog demographic tho.
mp100, opm, bsd, given: kind of medium-tier fandoms. not as prevalent as haikyuu or bnha, but there are still edits being made for these anime. they don’t really have any active fan blogs (besides given i think) bc none of them are airing rn.
makoto shinkai & studio ghibli films: they do great! everybody loves good scenery, and the films are very well known and loved by all!
some seasonal anime (spring/summer 2020)
fruits basket: well this reboot blew up and overshadowed everything in it’s path. tbh only edits posted on the first day of the new episode do well. it’s a very competitive fandom for creators. 
kaguya sama love is war: first season was good, edits did well. second season drifted off into the shadow of fruits basket. relatively obscure fandom for how popular it is amongst people (non-creators). 
tower of god: popular with creators. now that it’s not airing, no one gifs it. respective fan blog is doing its best with content from the manhwa.
fugou keiji balance unlimited: people were simping even before the first ep came out, and then the anime went on hiatus for a few months. now that it’s started to air again, everyone acts like it never existed in the first place... was a good fandom up until the hiatus and now it will probably take a while to recover.
god of high school: nonexistent even tho it’s a popular pick this season (summer 2020). in the shadow of fruits basket.
deca-dence, bna, great pretender, kakushigoto, the misfit at demon king academy, rent-a-girlfriend: *sigh* didn’t see much of it on my dash. lesser-watched seasonal anime in comparison to fruits basket and tower of god (all relative to tumblr). there are gifs being made, but you have to follow the right blogs.
main point: if there’s any seasonal anime paired up against fruits basket at the same time, fruits basket will win and the former will be left in the dust.
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dokidokidirkstrider · 4 years
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Key Elements That Must Be in Your Sunscreen
Secure Yourself From The Sun's Harmful Rays
Memorial Day is 2 weeks away. Did you understand that "Don't Fry Day" is the Friday before? Yep, today was designated by the National Council on Skin Cancer Cells Prevention due to the fact that Memorial Day is frequently the very first day of the warm weather condition season where individuals obtain a dreadful sunburn-- a shed that causes permanent skin damages that remains for your entire lifetime.
Did you understand that getting 5 or more sunburns can increase your danger of obtaining melanoma, one of the most lethal kind of skin cancer cells?
Yep, unfortunate job-security for skin specialists. Don't let that be you or the people
you like. Get your sunlight protection" equipment" in order now, consisting of the ideal sunscreen. I'm a medical skin specialist who has actually practiced for over thirty years. I have actually seen who gets skin cancer cells, what sun-protection method works-- and also which have allow my patients down. I have actually discovered exactly how to assist my diverse group of patients to practice great sunlight defense in a manner that fits their way of life, values as well as budget plan. No matter exactly how severe their sun direct exposure is or exactly how sensitive their skin is to UV or intolerant it is to products, it's feasible to take pleasure in warm summertime climate without a tan or a shed. My patients have actually confirmed it is possible.
My suggestions right here are based on what clients have shown me throughout my career.
First, get going with your sunlight defense method currently. Do not wait up until the last minute. You require your strategy prepared as well as proven before the summertime sunlight gets extreme as well as your outside play plans are in full swing.
As a practicing dermatologist, here's what I suggest for sun block and sun security:
Use Only The Best Sun block.
Your sun block needs to provide an SPF 30, at minimum, as well as be identified "Broad Range." You will check out that SPF 15 suffices. I recommend 30, and you will certainly see why later on.
Did you recognize that not all sun blocks are proficient at blocking all the harmful rays? This is especially real for the UV ray called UVA. In the past, sun blocks supplied almost no UVA security, making this a source of debate and also complication. Here is the tale:
UVB is the extreme summertime mid-day ray that swiftly melts your skin. SPF initially was a procedure of how well UVB was blocked. You might stay outdoors in the sunlight much longer without burning-- as well as obtain whole lots and also whole lots more UVA than you would certainly have otherwise. You believed you were secure since you did not shed. Little did people know that the UVA was loading their skin with lots of postponed damage that appears later in life.
Bottom line, you MUST see "Broad Spectrum" noted on the tag.
You Should Put On Enough Sun Block to Obtain Sufficient Security.
Researches have shown for many years that individuals practically never ever do. There are a lot of reasons. Beginning with an SPF 30, as well as you have extra defense. But it possibly ends up being even more like an SPF 15 if you are not using and reapplying "as guided." Just beware, and also pay attention to how much you use. As well as beware to reapply product on all your revealed skin-- as well as begin with SPF 30!
Here is the story:
SPFs are checked and ranked at about 1 oz. (a shot glass), the quantity covering the average-adult human body. That's 2 mg./ cm2 of surface; that number is possibly useless to you virtually. The factor is, the typical adult is around 1.8 (female) to 2 meters settled of skin surface, 1 shot glass if you are in a swimming suit.
However, just how much sunscreen do you need to relate to your face during the typical day when you are not using a swimming suit?
Based upon "the Wallace Regulation of nines for body surface," your head is 9% of that; the "anterior head" (head and neck) is 4.5%. Every person's composition differs, however this is about the portion of area of your face as well as neck, minus your hair on that front half of your "head."
I have actually estimated this throughout the years at about 4% of your total body surface area, if you are simply putting day-to-day sun block on the front of your head and also neck, indicating your face as well as sides/front of your neck in the early morning. Hence, 4% of your 1 oz. required-application-dose, based on 1 oz. being 6 tsp., the mathematics pertains to 1/4 tsp. per face/neck/ears depending upon how much of your "head as well as neck" your hair covers.
Generally, I use less than a tsp. for my face/neck/ears/ behind my ears as well as the rear of my neck above my collar line, as well as it functions. This is what I have taught my people over the years, as well as it normally helps them, also.
The bright side is that you can evaluate your outcomes.
Are you obtaining a tan?
If so, you require to make use of even more of your item. Once again, every product has a various consistency so you may require to assess up or down based on sun tanning or darkening of freckles. Just examine this before you prepare intensive UV-exposure-- you need to understand that your technique is area on!
Put On Sun Block Each Day on Subjected Skin.
UV-rays are sly, and also unless you live in a deep dark cave, you require sunscreen each day. UVA comes via home window glass, and both UV rays jump off reflective surfaces like concrete, rocks and structures. UV damage accumulates. The body can fix a few of the damages, however not all. Even UV direct exposure below the degree to create a shed will certainly build up damages. The damages leads to creases, skin thinning, sun spot freckling, as well as skin cancer cells.
What sunlight screen ingredients offer the best broad range security?
You will see some complicated as well as contradictory details on the web right now regarding sunscreens. I've checked out a lot of it, and even I'm puzzled-- artificial insemination versus in vivo versus ex vivo testing, physical sunscreens checked in differing sizes, representation versus absorption versus scatter systems, absorption with the entire UVA-spectrum, picture security or filter combinations-- it continues. Essentially, you require a really great chemist to make an item that is tested on humans, and after that, put it to the test in real life.
I am NOT a skin care chemist. I have actually been in the privileged position to do full skin-exams for three decades and observe exactly how my clients have put sunscreen to the examination. I can inform you what has taken great treatment of my individual's skin based on these years of observation. I'm additionally truly fair-skinned as well as spend as much time outdoors in extreme sunlight direct exposure setups as I potentially can.
Here is what I find out about UV-filters (sunscreen active ingredients):.
Mineral Zinc Oxide
This is my top option. It is what I put on everyday as well as have for years. It is what a lot of my clients choose, as well. Mineral zinc oxide protects with mineral bits. The smaller sized they are, the a lot more invisible they can be on skin. Innovation has advanced and the micro-fine dimension (non-nano) is now likewise unnoticeable.
It obstructs UVB and UVA. It's protection decreases off at the end of the UVA range so I like to see a lot of zinc oxide in an item.
I've advised 5% or even more for many years and I like to see much more, ideally.
My Sheer Strength Matte as well as Spray products consist of 16.2 and 12% specifically. That is cutting edge for security that is invisible. Suntegrity 5 in 1 BB Lotion includes 20%. Raw Components Eco Tin High Efficiency consists of 23%.
118" > Zinc oxide is distinctly photostable, implying it does
not break down as it secures your skin. You still need reapplication in extreme UV-exposure setups since you will rub off product throughout normal tasks. Non-mineral filters that are fairly good UV-filters Several of these are readily available in the UNITED STATE as well as some are not. Please note that I am not a substantial fan of new" natural "filters. I like to see them work-- or not-- or cause breakouts-- or otherwise on" other individuals "prior to I advise them. I also such as the poisoning issue to get a great think and also test in real life settings. Mexoryl (Ecamsule): SX (water-soluble) and also XL (oil-soluble)
Both are patented by L'Oréal and special to their brands. These soak up UV, the molecule "gets excited" as well as releases thermal power (heat) on the outside of the skin. Ecamsule misses out on several of the UVB spectrum so it must be combined with other sunscreens (UV filters) that cover that.
It is a good UVA-blocker as well as not as breakable as earlier chemical UV filters such as avobenzone. Its visibility is stated to be difficult in a total product formulation due to the fact that it is an acid. Usual UV filters seen with it consist of avobenzone, octocrylene, titanium dioxide, and others. The U.S. and Canada enable the SX kind. Canada enables the XL form, and also the FDA is assessing its security. A few of my clients have actually used Mexoryl items, and also my scientific observation is that they operate in that I do not see sunlight burning, tanning or dimming of sunlight freckles.
Tinosorb S and also M
These are likewise large particles that may not enter skin. They are patented by BASF as well as have wide UV-protection. They do not break down with UV-exposure and can aid other UV-filters stay a lot more stable such as avobenzone (Tinosorb S) as well as octinoxate (Tinosorb M). Tinosorb M also reflects and scatters UV as well as is sort of like a particle sun block, though it is not a mineral UV-filter. Evidently, it does disappoint estrogenic impacts in vitro (test tubes). It is not accepted by the FDA yet, however it is offered in Europe.
These later 2 are fairly new but they have some favorable qualities. They are big particles and so probably do not penetrate into the skin. This is essential as some sun blocks are absorbed into the body as well as can trigger troubles, like hormone disturbance. They can likewise hurt or trigger skin allergic reactions. Mexoryl as well as Tinosorb obstruct UVA very well, as well as I am hopeful. They are fairly brand-new, however, and so post marketing adverse experiences are still a "wait as well as watch" in my point of view.
The lower line on which sunscreen filters I like:.
Zinc oxide, hands down.
I have actually had countless clients use it for several years. It has stood the examination of time for sun securing my individual's skin. It's risk-free. Zinc oxide is likewise an active ingredient utilized in skin look after lots of other applications for a truly very long time-- bear in mind diaper rash as well as zinc oxide?! It has an outstanding security record. It is non-irritating for also one of the most delicate skin. It can be formulated to be unseen yet still obstruct UV well. Yes, say goodbye to light white tinting, or white clown makeup search your skin. Search for micro-fine zinc when having unseen security is very important for you. You can likewise get good security from nano-size zinc, however my preference is micro-fine zinc oxide. The non-nano products will certainly not be unnoticeable. They still use impressive security. Many natural formulas utilize larger fragments in high-performance bases. It has the most effective coral reef security account, particularly the larger-particle-size natural formulas like Raw Components. Putting on sun defense swim tee shirts and also applying a natural formula zinc oxide sun block to the little surface of subjected skin is wise reef stewardship, in my viewpoint.
Final Tips on Sun Block:
Sunlight evasion, not sunscreen is suggested for babies 6 months old or much less. Apply sun block before you head out so it can dry out and bind much better to your skin. This will certainly aid it do better for you. Reapply it if you have actually massaged it off your skin like by changing your garments or in frisky tasks like sports. Reapply it after water get in touch with like swimming or sweating regardless of how much time it's gotten on. Do not spray sunscreen on your face. Frankly, don't spray it without scrubing it in on other areas as well. Sprays leave droplets, as well as by definition, you can anticipate skin locations in between beads or they would not be beads! Don't neglect your lip security. I do not recommend chemical sunscreens on the lips nor do I advise nano-zinc on the lips. Don't count on sun block alone. Wear sun-protective clothes as well as seek the color. Sunscreen is created to secure subjected skin-- let that be as little of an area as possible since you have excellent sun-protective garments to use during extreme UV-exposure.
Click on this link to see what I put on. Visit this site for my preferred sunlight umbrella. Go here for my truly fantastic as well as well valued sunlight hats.
Want effective however not excessively obvious sunlight security? Take a look at our summer season sun security.
Referrals
:
Antony R. Youthful, PhD, Ultraviolet radiation and the skin: Photobiology and sunscreen photoprotection, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, March 2017 Volume 76, Concern 3, Supplement 1, Pages S100-- S109
Steven Q. Wang, Haoming Xu, Joseph W. Stanfield, Uli Osterwalder, Bernd Herzog, Comparison of ultraviolet A light security standards in the United States as well as European Union through in vitro dimensions of commercially available sunscreens, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2017; Vol. 77, Problem 1: 42-47
Mark A. Mitchnick, MD, David Fairhurst, PhD, Sheldon R. Pinnell, MD, Microfine zinc oxide (Z-Cote) as a photostable UVA/UVB sunblock representative, Provided partially as a poster at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, San Francisco, Calif, March 21-26, 1997. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999; 40:85 -90.)
More Balaji D. Physical sunscreens: On the return path, Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Vol. 73, No. 2, March-April, 2007, pp. 80-85
Threes G Smijs, Titanium dioxide as well as zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and security and efficiency, Nanotechnol Sci Appl. 2011; 4: 95-- 112.
Stiefel C, Schwack W, Photoprotection in changing times-- UV filter effectiveness as well as security, sensitization processes and also regulative elements, International Journal of Aesthetic Science Quantity 37, Issue 1, Evaluation Post, First released: 25 September 2014 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ics.12165
Julián Jiménez Reinosaa, et. al., Improvement of UV absorption habits in ZnO-- TiO2 composites, Boletin De La Sociedad Espanola De Ceramica Y Vidrio, 55 (2016 ); 55-62
Curtis Cole, et. al., Metal Oxide Sunscreens Secure Skin by Absorption, Not by Representation or Spreading, Photodermatology Photoimmunology as well as Photomedicine 32( 1) October 2015
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suzanneshannon · 5 years
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Trans-inclusive Design
Late one night a few years ago, a panicked professor emailed me: “My transgender student’s legal name is showing on our online discussion board. How can I keep him from being outed to his classmates?” Short story: we couldn’t. The professor created an offline workaround with the student. Years later this problem persists not just in campus systems, but in many systems we use every day.
To anyone who’d call that an unusual situation, it’s not. We are all already designing for trans users—1 in 250 people in the US identifies as transgender or gender non-binary (based on current estimates), and the number is rising.
We are web professionals; we can do better than an offline workaround. The choices we make impact the online and offline experiences of real people who are trans, non-binary, or gender-variant—choices that can affirm or exclude, uplift or annoy, help or harm.
The rest of this article assumes you agree with the concept that trans people are human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and care. If you are seeking a primer on trans-related vocabulary and concepts, please read up and come back later.
I’m going to cover issues touching on content, images, forms, databases, IA, privacy, and AI—just enough to get you thinking about the decisions you make every day and some specific ideas to get you started.
“Tried making a Bitmoji again, but I always get disillusioned immediately by their binary gender model from literally step 1 and end up not using it. I don’t feel represented.”
Editorial note: All personal statements quoted in this article have been graciously shared with the express consent of the original authors.
How we can get things right
Gender is expansively misconstrued as some interchangeable term for anatomical features. Unlike the constellation of human biological forms (our sex), gender is culturally constructed and varies depending on where you are in the world. It has its own diversity.
Asking for gender when it is not needed; limiting the gender options users can select; assuming things about users based on gender; or simply excluding folks from our designs are all ways we reify the man-woman gender binary in design decisions.
Names are fundamentally important
If we do nothing else, we must get names right. Names are the difference between past and present, invalidation and affirmation, and sometimes safety and danger.
Yet, many of the systems we use and create don’t offer name flexibility.
Many programmers and designers have a few misconceptions about names, such as assuming people have one moniker that they go by all the time, despite how common it is for names to change over a lifetime. People might update them after a change in marital status, family situation, or gender, or perhaps someone is known by a nickname, westernized name, or variation on a first name.
In most locales, legally changing names is extremely difficult, extremely expensive, requires medical documentation, or is completely out of the question.
Changes to name and gender marker are even more complicated; they tend to be two separate, long-drawn-out processes. To make matters worse, laws vary from state to state within the U.S. and most only recognize two genders—man and woman—rather than allowing non-binary options.Not all trans people change their names, but for those who do, it’s a serious and significant decision that shouldn’t be sabotaged. We can design systems that protect the lives and privacy of our users, respect the fluid nature of personal identity, and act as an electronic curb cut that helps everyone in the process.
Deadnaming
One need only search Twitter for “deadname app” to get an idea of how apps can leave users in the lurch. Some of the most alarming examples involve apps and sites that facilitate real-life interactions (which already involve a measure of risk for everyone).
“Lyft made it completely impossible for me to change my name on its app even when it was legally changed. I reached out to their support multiple times and attempted to delete the account and start over with no result. I was completely dependent on this service for groceries, appointments, and work, and was emotionally exhausted every single time I needed a ride. I ended up redownloading Uber - even though there was a strike against the service - which I felt awful doing. But Uber allowed me to change my name without any hoops to jump through, so for the sake of my mental health, I had to.”
Trans people are more likely to experience financial hardship, so using payment apps to ask for donations is often necessary. Some of these services may reveal private information as a matter of course, leaving them exposed and potentially at risk.
There are also ramifications when linked services rely on our data sources for name information, instigating an unpredictable cascade effect with little or no recourse to prevent the sharing of sensitive details.
These are examples of deadnaming. Deadnaming is what happens when someone’s previous or birth name is used, rather than the name the person uses now. Deadnaming is invalidating at the least, even as a faux pas, but can be psychologically devastating at the other extreme, even putting lives at risk.The experiences of trans, non-binary, or gender-variant folk can vary widely, and they live in disparate conditions throughout the world. Many are thriving and creating new and joyful ways to resist and undo gender norms, despite the common negative narrative around trans lives. Others can face hardship; trans people are more likely to be unstably housed, underemployed, underpaid, and targets of violence in and out of their homes, workplaces, and intimate relationships. The ramifications are amplified for people of color and those with disabilities, as well as those in precarious living/working situations and environments where exposure can put them in harm’s way.
Design for name changes
Here’s what we can do:
Design for renaming. Emma Humphries’ talk on renaming covers this nicely. Airbnb has developed policies and procedures for users who’ve transitioned, allowing users to keep their review histories intact with amended names and/or pronouns.
Get rid of “real name” requirements. Allow people to use names they go by rather than their legal first names.
Clarify when you actually need a legal name, and only use that in conjunction with a display name field.
Have a name change process that allows users to change their names without legal documentation. (It’s likely that you have procedures for marriage-related name changes already.)
Ensure users can still change their display names when connecting with other data sources to populate users’ names.
Don’t place onerous restrictions on changes. Once someone creates a username, web address, or profile URL, allow them to change it.
Draft a code of conduct if you’re part of an online community, and make sure to include policies around deadnaming. Twitter banned deadnaming last year.
Allow people to be forgotten. When people delete their accounts for whatever reason, help them make sure that their data is not lingering in your systems or in other places online.
Update the systems users don’t see, too
Identity management systems can be a mess, and name changes can reveal the failures among those systems, including hidden systems that users don’t see.
One Twitter user’s health insurance company kept their ID number between jobs but changed their gender. Another user updated their display name but got an email confirmation addressed to their legal name.
Hidden information can also undermine job opportunities:
“At a university as a student, I transitioned and changed my name and gender to be a woman. TWELVE YEARS later after being hired to work in the Libraries, the Libraries HR coordinator emailed me that I was listed as male still in the database. He changed it on my asking, but I have to wonder how long… was it a factor in my being turned down for jobs I applied to… who had seen that..?”
Emma Humphries details the hidden systems that can carry out-of-date information about users. Her tips for database design include:
Don’t use emails as unique IDs.
Use an invariant user ID internally, and link the user’s current email and display name to it.
Images
Visuals should allow room for representation and imagination rather than a narrow subset of the usual suspects: figures who appear to be straight, cisgender, able-bodied, and white/Caucasian.
What we can do is feature a variety of gender presentations, as well as not assume someone’s gender identity if they buy certain items.
Some companies, like Wildfang and Thinx, offer a broad array of images representing different races, body sizes, and gender expressions on their websites and in their ads.
Many are also choosing not to hire models, allowing room for imagination and versatility:
“I got a catalog for a ‘classic menswear company’ that features zero photos of any person of any gender. Now if only I could afford an $800 blazer...”
Here's what we can do:
Actively recruit diverse groups of models for photos. And pay them!
If you can’t shoot your own photos, Broadly has recently launched a trans-inclusive stock photo collection free for wide use. Avataaars allows users to create an avatar without selecting a gender.
Information architecture
How we organize information is a political act and a non-neutral decision (librarians have said this for a while). This applies to gender-based classifications.
Many companies that sell consumer goods incorporate gender into their product design and marketing, no matter what. The product itself might be inherently gender-neutral (such as clothing, toys, bikes, or even wine), but these design and marketing decisions can directly impact the information architecture of websites.
Here's what we can do:
Evaluate why any menus, categories, or tags are based on gender, and how it can be done differently:
“Nike has a ‘gender neutral’ clothing category, yet it’s listed under ‘men’ and ‘women’ in the website architecture. 🤔”
Forms
Forms, surveys, and other types of data gathering are surefire ways to include or exclude people. If you ask for information you don’t need or limit the options that people can select, you risk losing them as users.
Here's what we can do:
Critically evaluate why you are asking for personal information, including gender. Will that information be used to help someone, or sell things to your advertisers?
"Why does the @CocaCola site make me select a gender just to make a purchase? Guess my family isn't getting personalized Coke bottles for Christmas."
If you are asking users for their gender, you’d better have a good reason and options that include everyone. A gender field should have more than two options, or should ask for pronouns instead. When including more than binary options, actually record the selections in your databases instead of reclassifying answers as male/female/null, otherwise you risk losing trust when disingenuous design decisions become public.
Honorifics are infrequently used these days, but it takes little work to add gender-inclusive titles to a list. For English-language sites, “Mx.” can go alongside “Mr.” and “Ms.” without fuss. United Airlines debuted this option earlier this year.
Content
Here's what we can do:
Avoid inappropriately gendered language. Your style guide should include singular “they” instead of “he/she” or “s/he,” and exclude frequently used words and phrases that exclude trans folks. Resources such as this transgender style guide are a quick way to check your language and benchmark your own content guidelines.
Check assumptions about gender and biology. Not everyone who can have a period, can get pregnant, or can breastfeed identifies as women or mothers—just as not everyone who identifies as women or mothers can have periods, can get pregnant, or can breastfeed. Thinx, a company that sells period underwear, has an inclusive tagline: “For people with periods.”
Avoid reinforcing the binary. Groups of people aren’t “ladies and gentlemen” or “boys and girls.” They are folks, people, colleagues, “y’all,” or even “all y’all.”
Pronouns aren’t “preferred”—they’re just pronouns. Calling pronouns preferred suggests that they’re optional and are replacing a “true” pronoun.
Avoid reinforcing stereotypes about trans people. Not all trans people are interested in medically transitioning, or in “passing.” They also aren’t fragile or in need of a savior. Gender is separate from sexual orientation. You can’t “tell” someone is trans.
Privacy, surveillance, and nefarious AI
We’ve heard the story of algorithms identifying a pregnant teen before her parents knew. What if an algorithm predicts or reveals information about your gender identity?
Inferences. Users’ genders are assumed based on their purchase/browsing history.
Recommendations. A user bought something before they transitioned and it shows up in “recommended because you bought X.”
Predictions. Users’ genders are not only inferred but used to predict something else based on characteristics of that gender. Even if you don’t tell big websites what your gender is, they assume one for you based on your interests. That kind of reductive essentialism can harm people of all genders. One of this article’s peer readers summed this up:
“Gender markers are a poor proxy for tastes. I like dresses, cute flats, and Raspberry Pis.”
Flashbacks. “On this day” algorithms remind users of the past, sometimes for better (“I’ve come so far”) or for worse (“don’t remind me”).
AI-based discrimination
AI and surveillance software can also reinforce norms about what men’s and women’s bodies should look like, resulting in harrowing airline travel experiences and creating AI-based discrimination for trans people.
So, too, can trans folks’ public data be used for projects that they don’t consent to. Just because we can use AI for something—like determining gender based on a face scan—doesn’t mean we should.
Here's what we can do:
Read up and proactively mitigate bias.AI and algorithms can reflect developers’ biases and perpetuate stereotypes about how people’s bodies should look. Use AI to challenge the gender binary rather than reinforce it. Design for privacy first. Hire more types of people who represent different lived experiences.
Toward a gender-inclusive web
The ideas I’ve offered here are only starting points. How you choose to create space for trans folks is going to be up to you. I don’t have all the solutions here, and there is no singular trans experience. Also, language, definitions, and concepts change rapidly.
We shouldn’t use any of these facts as excuses to keep us from trying.
When we start to think about design impact on trans folks, the ideas we bring into question can benefit everyone. Our designs should go beyond including—they should affirm and validate. Ideally, they will also reflect organizational cultures that support diversity and inclusion.
Here's what we can do:
Keep learning. Learn how to be a good ally. Pay trans user research participants to help validate your design assumptions. Hire trans people on your team and don't hang them out to dry or make them do all the hard work around inclusion and equity. Make it everyone’s job to build a more just web and world for everybody.
Editorial note: All personal statements quoted in this article have been graciously shared with the express consent of the original authors.
This article is stronger and wiser thanks to Mica McPheeters at A List Apart and the following peer readers. Thank you.
Jake Atchison Katherine Deibel, Ph.D. Justina F. Hall Austyn Higgs Emma Humphries Tara Robertson Levi R. Walter
Trans-inclusive Design published first on https://deskbysnafu.tumblr.com/
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