Gender

Description

A Wide Array

The sentient species populating the galaxy exhibited a diverse range of genders. Many species, based on sexual characteristics, utilized the labels "female" or "male," or had culturally analogous terms. The galaxy contained at least eleven distinct genders, alongside beings who identified as genderless. Take, for example, the Sabetue species, where certain individuals lacked gender and could be identified by their uniformly white skin.

An individual's gender could diverge from the assumptions made at birth based on their sex. Among the clones derived from the human male Jango Fett, one particular clone trooper was given the name Sister by her comrades to acknowledge her belonging among them; the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker remarked that she had "transcended gender." Other humans, such as Tepoh, an aide from Naboo, experienced and expressed gender in a fluid manner. Tepoh's desire to be perceived as more or less female fluctuated.

Within the Galactic Basic Standard language, individuals who did not identify with either binary gender employed singular pronouns such as "zhe," used by both the pirate Eleodie Maracavanya and the aide Tepoh. The pronoun "they" was used by individuals such as the human Jedi Master Kantam Sy during the High Republic Era, the Kotabi bond-twins and Jedi Knights Terec and Ceret of the High Republic—who were trans—the Alderaanian pilot Taka Jamoreesa, and the Mirialan pilot Keo Venzee of the New Republic. Other languages, like the Wookiee language Shyriiwook, also contained gender-neutral personal pronouns. The term "neutrois" was utilized within the Galactic Empire to refer to individuals whose gender was neither male nor female.

Other Facets of Gender

Feminine pronouns were frequently used to refer to starships, though this practice was considered outdated by many during the First Order-Resistance War. Despite being artificially intelligent mechanical constructs rather than organic beings, droids were often assigned pronouns such as "he," "she," or "it." The bounty droid MA-55H was addressed using both singular "they/them" and "he/him" pronouns.

The pronoun "he" was commonly employed as a default when referring to individuals of unknown gender. For example, when an unseen assailant attempted to assassinate Padmé Amidala, both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker initially referred to the assassin as "he," until they discovered that the attacker was actually a female changeling. Similarly, Darth Vader automatically used the pronoun "he" when referring to the rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star, despite not knowing their identity at the time. Upon discovering a buried starship, Fern defaulted to using "he" when referring to the previous captain, lacking any information about their gender.

Genders were sometimes associated with personality traits. In one instance, when arguing with Han Solo, who asserted that Princess Leia Organa harbored feelings for him, an exasperated Leia retorted, "I guess you don't know everything about women yet." Years later, when Solo suspected that Finn was being dishonest with Rey about his real identity, he cautioned Finn that women "always figure out the truth. Always."

Clothing could carry cultural connotations, including gender, which the wearer might not have intended to express.

Genders Across Species

Shifting Gender Identities

Certain species had members who would either transition between genders or select new ones at various times throughout their lives. Xidelphiad individuals underwent protogynic phases and entered a chrysalis state during the transformation from female to male, a process spanning years before their emergence. Dianogas possessed the physical capacity for multiple reproductive roles and chose the gender they wished to embody. Their most prevalent gender was diangous; a female named Omi encountered several other females and more individuals identifying as diangous, but did not encounter a dianoga identifying as male for a considerable period. The Chalhuddan species progressed through five genders during their lifespans. Their native language employed pronoun cases that reflected their current gender, two or three previous genders, and sometimes their anticipated future gender. Due to the absence of equivalent pronouns in Galactic Basic, "you" and "they" were used as substitutes.

Gender-Based Roles

The native cultures of some species assigned specific roles and expectations based on gender. The Tusken Raiders inhabiting the desert planet Tatooine organized themselves into clans or tribes. In many of these, males served as warriors, safeguarding the tribe and confronting intruders, while females raised children and protected the home. Tuskens completely covered their bodies, but Tusken females could be distinguished by their jeweled masks. However, not all tribes adhered to such rigid gender roles. In the tribe that former bounty hunter Boba Fett joined, both females and males wore similar attire and fought alongside one another.

Warrior initiation rituals involved bestowing each individual with a bantha of their gender to care for, establishing a lifelong bond between the Tusken and the bantha. Members of the Gamorrean species lived in clans governed by a Clan Matron, who selected a male Warlord to co-rule based on his combat prowess and strength. The sows' primary responsibility was farming, while the boars engaged in warfare against other clans. Boars may have been responsible for hunting, but sows may have hunted in addition to farming.

Among the avian and matriarchal Lanai on the planet Ahch-To, the female Caretakers passed down their titles and responsibilities from mother to daughter, maintaining the sacred structures of the First Jedi Temple. The male Visitors spent much of their time fishing in the sea, but upon returning with the month's catch, they joined the Caretakers for several days of celebration. Accounts regarding the species of the planet Crul are inconsistent, though they agree that Crolutes were native to the planet. Some claimed that Crolutes were divided into "cows" and "bulls," while others believed that Crolutes were an entirely male species with a corresponding female species known as Gilliands.

Certain species exhibited distinct appearances in addition to differing roles based on gender. The Dathomirian species serves as an example. On the planet Dathomir, female Nightsisters and male Nightbrothers lived in separate communities. The Nightsisters became witches, wielding magick amplified by the planet's power. When they sought to reproduce, they would visit the Nightbrother village to select a suitable mate; the Nightbrothers were subservient to the Nightsisters. The Nightsisters possessed pale or white skin, often adorned with subtle or monochrome tattoos, while the Nightbrothers used bold tattoos to accentuate their colorful skin and natural stripes. The government on Devaron was matriarchal. Devaronian males were barred from holding office, as they were deemed less serious and more prone to wandering the stars compared to females, who remained on the planet. Males were bald and horned, while females had small bumps and hair on their heads.

During the Imperial Era, it was uncommon for a Chiss to be Force-sensitive. Those with the ability of Third Sight were almost exclusively girls, and this ability diminished as they matured into adulthood. While their ability remained potent, they served as navigators known as ozyly-esehembo in Cheunh, which translates to "sky-walker" in Basic.

Some species, such as the Paccosh from the Unknown Regions, held one gender in particularly high esteem. Senior Captain Mitth'raw'nuruodo insisted on bringing a Chiss woman with him to an asteroid mining station in the Rapacc system, deducing from the clothing and body language of deceased Paccosh that the species revered women.

Behind the Scenes

In interviews preceding and following the release of the 1983 original trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, actress Carrie Fisher discussed the concept of femininity in relation to her character, Leia Organa. Fisher stated at the 42nd World Science Fiction Convention that the third film was particularly challenging because she had to integrate being feminine and powerful without being angry all the time.

In the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the actor portraying Meena Tills was male, which led to action figure packaging and Legends stories identifying Tills as male. When it was decided that Tills would appear in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, it was agreed that Tills would be female to align with her namesake.

Author Claudia Gray has mentioned on her Tumblr blog the existence of new genders within the Star Wars galaxy. While her novels have not explicitly named these genders, she initially hinted at their presence in 2016 with Leia Organa's observation of four or more genders in her novel Bloodline. Gray introduced the multi-gendered Chalhuddans in the 2017 novel Leia, Princess of Alderaan.

Also in 2016, Chuck Wendig's novel Aftermath: Life Debt marked the first instance of an explicitly genderqueer character, the non-binary pirate Eleodie Maracavanya, in a Star Wars work. Following Maracavanya's introduction, more non-binary characters were introduced, including a Black Sun agent in E. K. Johnston's 2016 novel Ahsoka, Taka Jamoreesa in Daniel José Older's 2018 novel Last Shot, and Keo Venzee in the 2020 video game Star Wars: Squadrons. In recognition of the International Transgender Day of Visibility in March 2021, the Star Wars Instagram account announced that Terec and Ceret, two Kotabi Jedi Knights from the Star Wars: The High Republic comic book series, are trans non-binary.

Several characters within the multimedia project Star Wars: The High Republic have been depicted with inconsistent genders, rather than intentional portrayals of gender transitions. In Charles Soule's short story "Starlight: Go Together," published in Star Wars Insider 199, Shai Tennem was initially portrayed with masculine pronouns. However, Soule's 2021 novel The High Republic: Light of the Jedi referred to Tennem with feminine pronouns. Estala Maru is mistakenly referred to as "her" in Light of the Jedi; Cavan Scott's Insider short story "Starlight: First Duty" employs masculine pronouns, and Maru is depicted as male in The High Republic comic book series. Upon the initial release of Light of the Jedi, Teri Rosason, whose first name was not specified in the book, was initially mentioned with masculine pronouns, and Adampo initially appeared with feminine pronouns. In The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray, Rosason's initial appearance described the character as "a human woman of advanced years," and Adampo was referred to with masculine pronouns. E-book versions of Light of the Jedi were later corrected to reflect Rosason as female and Adampo as male.

In the non-canon 2022 video game LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, a gonk droid is assigned both "he/him" and "they/them" pronouns.