#outofroses: heeerree we gooo lol.

[drinkitfrommymouthsuou]

🔥 (whatever you want. Be salty for a hot minute lol)

Send me a “ 🔥 “ for an unpopular opinion. ->

outofroses: Okay...so. Admittedly, I am a bit nervous about posting this...but...here it goes.

I’ma preface this to say I do not care how someone portrays/roleplays a character.  There is no right or wrong way to respond to a character and draw meaning from them. That is what art is made to do.   

Haruhi Fujioka is not non-binary. She just doesn’t give a flying fridge how people perceive her. Just because she is not bothered by societal expectations, or gender norms, does not automatically equate to her identifying as anything other than female. I do understand where people come from when they assume her gender identity, however, I feel there is ample evidence in the series that suggests otherwise. There are multiple instances in the series when she tells the host club, “I never claimed otherwise.” Simply to mean, the host club [and the audience] first assume she is male; they never asked for clarification (because they assumed her gender) and she never felt the need to correct them (because she doesn’t care).

Tamaki: You're a girl?

Haruhi: Yes. Never claimed otherwise.

Another example is during Episode 3 – Beware the Physical Exams! The host club worries that she will be found out, resulting in Haruhi having to quit the host club.  Ultimately, Haruhi says she doesn’t care if the school finds out she is a girl, basically an “it is what it is!” the typical kind of attitude from our mc heroine, here. So, if she doesn’t care, then why does she stay in the host club? Well, lol without her staying in the host club, then we wouldn’t have the story in the first place.  Chiefly, she cares about erasing her debt.  Money and food are powerful motivators for Haruhi (incidentally, aren’t these things always powerful motivators for the “poor”?). 

Another example is in Episode 26 – This Is Our Ouran Fair, Haruhi complains that she is the only one dressed as a girl.  Hikaru playfully reminds her that it is cosplay, so it is “okay for her to be dressed as a girl”, to which Haruhi responds with: “I am one, you know?”

It is true that Haruhi enjoys wearing “men’s” clothing simply because they feel more comfortable. Additionally, Haruhi is incredibly frugal.  There are instances where we see the clothes that she wears are often hand-me-downs from her father; why buy an entirely new wardrobe when there is already a perfectly acceptable wardrobe that is not being worn?

I think it is perfectly okay for her to identify as female and not “fit into” what society deems is female, or even what society deems as non-binary.  Why do these characteristics need to point to her being non-binary? I don’t get it.  Why can’t cis women wear “men’s” clothing because they are comfy? Why can’t cis women not care about gender conformity?  Why is it, if she is all these things, do these things equate to her possibly being non-binary? She only ever confirms (several times to the host club and audience) that she is female.

I do not dismiss this character’s contribution to the non-binary community in general.  It is true that she had a profound influence on me while I was growing up, and just figuring out who I am.  As I was prepping to answer this ask, I came across this…

"It's what's on the inside that counts": How Haruhi Fujioka helped me embrace being genderfluid.

While I do not think Haruhi is genderfluid, I do believe she has helped many people understand that no matter who you are, appearances and labels do not matter.  I found comfort in the fact that someone like Haruhi, who never once states that she IS male, or THEM, but purely a cis female, could readily accept and hold space for people who are just like me.  She is a powerful ALLY. She does not care…she is the most unbothered person in the world.

Haruhi: Besides, it doesn't really matter does it? Guy, girl, or appearance (I don't understand why this kind of club exists). Its what's on the inside what counts, right?"

Tamaki: ...Well, true...

#📬 meme: submission #memeday: munday #Host: Haruhi Fujioka ❤️ #⚜ answered his jester | salem #outofroses: heeerree we gooo lol.