Sharkgender

Sharkgender is a faunagender related to sharks and shark mermaids. A sharkgender individual may feel like their gender is connected to sharks or heavily influenced by sharks. The most common connotations that come with the term are snappiness, moodiness, friendliness and shark aesthetics. Due to the term being repeatedly coined, the true definition has become muddied and moved from a shark mermaid gender to a general shark-related gender. Sharkgender may also be a kingender for those who are shark-kin.

History

The term was coined by Tumblr user uncommonsexualities on December 20, 2018.^[1] The flag was created on the same day by Tumblr user twink-flags in association with user uncommonsexualities.

An alternate sharkgender flag was created by Tumblr user kitty-king-artwork on July 1, 2020, with a slightly modified meaning for the term in order to better describe their own identity.^[2]

Another flag was created under an alternative definition by Twitter user adokaoz on July 3rd, 2020. The user described the gender as being for those who felt a strong connection to sharks and claimed it was preferred that neurodivergent individuals use it over neurotypical individuals (though also stated that any may use it). The user claimed to be aware that sharkgender had already been coined.^[3]

The term was coined again by Twitter user istpbot on July 10, 2020, under yet another definition. This came with another flag redesign.^[4]

Flag

The original sharkgender flag is made up of seven stripes consisting of four shades of grey, the meanings of which are unknown. The colors are presumably based off of the colors of a shark. A grey silhouette of a mermaid is in the center of the flag.

Tumblr user kitty-king-artwork's redesigned flag consists of five differently-colored stripes. From top to bottom, they represent the ocean, kindness, great white sharks, prickliness and moodiness.

Twitter user adokaoz's sharkgender flag is made up of seven differently-colored stripes. Each stripe has two meanings. From top to bottom, they represent relationship with femininity and the top of the ocean, connection to different types of sharks and hammerhead sharks, neurodivergence and whale sharks, relationship with gender-nonconformity and the reflection or glare of the water, sharp and/or smooth personality and blue sharks, connection to the ocean and shortfin mako sharks, and relationship with masculinity and the bottom of the ocean. The flag has a shark emoji in the center.

Twitter user istpbot's sharkgender flag is made up of five stripes and consists of three colors. From top to bottom, they represent the abyssal zone of the ocean, shallow waters and the sleek skin of sharks. The flag has a shark in the center.