Choosing gender

Choosing gender or biological sex is a persistent and common theme in SF, and in particular in feminist SF. These might include simply gender roles, biological sex, both, or some other combination thereof.

Common tropes include:

• Species or societies in which people pick or are assigned a permanent gender / sex during adolescence
  • Commitment Hour by James Alan Gardner

• Species or societies in which people are assigned a false gender
  • Melissa Scott
  • blands

• Species or societies in which people can change at will
  • John Varley's Eight Worlds

• Species or societies in which people go through periodic changes
  • Genderbender, X-Files episode

• Species or societies in which people can alter their gender permanently
  • Uryuoms in El Goonish Shive (webcomic) - many choose their gender although it's not necessarily required

See also

• Sex-changing societies or species
• Sex-changing characters
• Relatedly, works featuring individuals (minds, souls, character) who can "body hop"