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[lenovox1]

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I get the herpes (or whatever) joke, but it also looks like it's trying to make some commentary on trans women??

I just thought it was a hooker with a wig. VGCatz isn't that deep.

 

[Wreck-It Ralph]

I know it's the commonly accepted way of categorizing bodies, but more and more people are saying it doesn't make sense. Cause, well, it doesn't. There's nothing inherently "male" about having a penis, just like there's nothing inherently "female" about having a vagina. Women have penises sometimes and men have vaginas sometimes. Some people have totally different genitalia that don't fit either form, and some peoples' genders aren't "man" or "woman".

Using the labels "male" and "female" to categorize bodies makes no sense.

Oh for fuck's sake.

Using "male" and "female" or "he" and "she" to categorize bodies is just quicker and more polite than saying "IT HAS A DICK" or "IT HAS A VAGINA" every time you want to categorize someone's body.

You're trying so hard to get offended in this thread.

 

[kittens]

You're trying so hard to get offended in this thread.

Or I just have a different analysis than you? There are a lot of people who use non-gendered terms for bodies because we believe that it's shitty to force bodies into a sex or gender binary. Yes, it feels awkward to say things like "people with penises" instead of "people with male genitalia" or "people who can get pregnant" rather than saying "women", but that awkwardness wears off after a while, and once it does it's nice cause you know you're using more accurate terms. And really, that's what it's about. More accurately representing and respecting all the many many many different bodies / genders / people out there.

And if you think all of this is about me "trying to be offended", then that's your problem.

Anyways, like I was saying, #TeamNonBinary. Tweeting Nintendo right now, brb.

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

Or I just have a different analysis than you? There are a lot of people who use non-gendered terms for bodies because we believe that it's shitty to force bodies into a sex or gender binary. Yes, it feels awkward to say things like "people with penises" instead of "people with male genitalia" or "people who can get pregnant" rather than saying "women", but that awkwardness wears off after a while, and once it does it's nice cause you know you're using more accurate terms. And really, that's what it's about. More accurately representing and respecting all the many many many different bodies / genders / people out there.

And if you think all of this is about me "trying to be offended", then that's your problem.

Anyways, like I was saying, #TeamNonBinary. Tweeting Nintendo right now, brb.

A penis makes the person male and a vagina makes the person female. This has nothing to do with gender. Your argument is completely pointless.

 

[LeleSocho]

<3

 

[border]

If Nintendo refers to Kirby as "he" in all press releases, instruction manuals, and videogames, why is this even a debate? The character is male.

 

[Dr_Swales]

Genderless but they default to "he" in English due to the language limitations.

I am confused, do you mean limitations in English or another language?

Because in English you have he, she, they.

Just curious ...

 

[Spinluck]

Gender is determined by genitalia, which Kirby lacks. I believe he is simply referred to as male because of his nature and behavior. The he/she applies here the same way people address cars and boats as "she," typically.

Kirby is male, if only to avoid calling him "it," which sounds somewhat insensitive.

Sonic has no visible genitalia.

 

[Madness]

They've always described Kirby as "he/him" etc. So I'm guessing he would be considered male in the sense you're thinking of.

 

[Kangi]

If Nintendo refers to Kirby as "he" in all press releases, instruction manuals, and videogames, why is this even a debate? The character is male.

Because characters like NiGHTS are also referred to as "he". "He" can be a gender-neutral pronoun in these cases; it's the closest thing the English language has other than "it", which is just condescending. Japan uses gender-neutral pronouns to refer to him, and I can see that being the meaning behind his being referred to as "he", as well.

Personally, I see Kirby as a boy. But it can go either way. He's a pink puffball alien with a pocket dimension inside his infinitely-expansive stomach; who says he needs to be part of a traditional gender binary?

 

[Camjo-Z]

Kirby is male for sure.

Yes, it feels awkward to say things like "people with penises" instead of "people with male genitalia" or "people who can get pregnant" rather than saying "women", but that awkwardness wears off after a while

 

[NinjamicWZ]

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I get the herpes (or whatever) joke, but it also looks like it's trying to make some commentary on trans women??

You should be ashamed of yourself for assuming that worn out hooker with herpes was a trans woman.

 

[Popnbake]

So, in excitement and preparation for Kirby: Triple Deluxe, I was glancing at Kirby Wiki. This thought actually occurred to me earlier today when I picked up the game and noticed Kirby's pronounced rosy cheeks are more of a feminine facial feature. There are really no specific features of Kirby that seem to connote any traditional gender. Of course, men can have feminine features and vice-versa. But I was curious about this so I consulted Kirby Wiki.

http://kirby.wikia.com/wiki/Kirby

Next to "Gender" it says "Male" with an asterix.

I assume the writers of the Kirby Wiki are as geeky (in a good way) as it gets when it comes to Kirby.

Kirby's age[6] and gender[7] are never directly stated by Japanese sources, although this rule was initially broken when he was introduced to western audiences as a "spry little boy" in the English manual for Kirby's Dream Land.

So have you always thought of Kirby as male? Has anyone here thought of him as asexual, female, or none of the above? I'm just curious if this has ever crossed anyone else's mind here, and if so, what their thoughts were on the subject.

From that [7] reference link:

Nintendo Japan Q&A for Smash Bros. page 84

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nalj/smash/PostReturn084.html

Responses appear to be from Sakurai based on translations?

&#12473;&#12510;&#12502;&#12521;&#12469;&#12452;&#12467;&#12540;&#12391;&#12377;&#65281;
&#12385;&#12394;&#12415;&#12395;&#31169;&#12398;&#12510;&#12452;&#12461;&#12515;&#12521;&#12399;&#12469;&#12512;&#12473;&#65286;&#12493;&#12473;&#12290;
&#12469;&#12512;&#12473;&#12387;&#12390;&#65292;&#22899;&#24615;&#12384;&#12387;&#12383;&#12435;&#12377;&#12397;&#65292;&#39514;&#12365;&#12414;&#12375;&#12383;&#12290;
&#12473;&#12510;&#12502;&#12521;&#65298;&#12394;&#12367;&#12390;&#12418;&#65292;&#27005;&#12375;&#12356;&#12363;&#12425;&#33391;&#12356;&#12376;&#12419;&#12435;&#65288;&#12354;&#12427;&#24847;&#21619;&#30382;&#32905;&#65289;&#12290;
&#65298;&#22238;&#30446;&#12398;&#25237;&#31295;&#65292;&#12371;&#12435;&#12394;&#12435;&#12391;&#12377;&#12415;&#12414;&#12379;&#12435;&#12391;&#12375;&#12383;&#12290;

&#12500;&#12459;&#12481;&#12517;&#12454;&#12418;&#12513;&#12473;&#12363;&#12418;&#65311;
&#12459;&#12540;&#12499;&#12451;&#12418;&#12513;&#12473;&#12363;&#12418;&#65311;
&#12381;&#12398;&#30495;&#30456;&#12399;&#38343;&#12398;&#20013;&#12290;

Google translation:

Smash Bros. is awesome!
By the way Maikyara my Sams & Ness.
I Samus, I do to was a woman, I was surprised.
Even without two Smash Bros., (do you mean irony there) Jan may be fun.
Posted second time, I'm sorry that does not come in.

Pikachu also be female?
Kirby also be female?
The truth in the dark.

I always thought Kirby was a boy as well.

Guess Sakurai likes to keep Kirby's gender a secret?

 

[Calamari41]

Kirby and Metaknight look exactly the same except for the color, and they are both males.

 

[Filaipus]

Because characters like NiGHTS are also referred to as "he". "He" can be a gender-neutral pronoun in these cases; it's the closest thing the English language has other than "it", which is just condescending. Japan uses gender-neutral pronouns to refer to him, and I can see that being the meaning behind his being referred to as "he", as well.

Personally, I see Kirby as a boy. But it can go either way. He's a pink puffball alien with a pocket dimension inside his infinitely-expansive stomach; who says he needs to be part of a traditional gender binary?

This. I always saw him as a boy but its not defined.

 

[MomoPufflet]

Kirby has a cloaca like a bird (one hole for poo, pee, and sexing). When Kirbies have sex they smoosh their cloacas together.

 

[Erin S Kittens]

A penis makes the person male and a vagina makes the person female. This has nothing to do with gender. Your argument is completely pointless.

There's no place for your childish genital essentialism in this world, but especially not a thread about Nintendo games. Nintendo have several trans* and non-binary characters, and have been making them since 1986 (if not earlier), so it's a perfectly valid topic of discussion. Anyway, I sent the comic around to a few friends: they all thought it was taking a shot at trans* sex workers.

Personally, I'm disappointed at the folk taking cheap shots at kittens for acknowledging that trans* folk are forced to do sex work at a disproportionately high rate among the general population. Just because you're ignorant of marginalized people's realities doesn't mean you need to attack someone for bringing a different perspective that challenges your outdated norms and stereotypes. Of course, given its time of publication and the author, I highly doubt it was intentionally about trans* sex workers. However, it's always a good time for people to learn about lives besides their own and maybe even have a shot at developing something resembling empathy.

 

[javac]

Pink is manly!

Why does she start crying when she kisses Kirby? Does Kirbys breath smell or something?

 

[dab0ne]

According to this 90s commercial Kirby is a boy.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ozPkEBhFzuw

 

[Missing.No]

In the anime (i'm the only one that saw it?) he's a male. Soooo... yes, he's male. Incredible, right?

 

[IcyBlueStrawberry]

I always just assumed Kirby was male.

 

[border]

Because characters like NiGHTS are also referred to as "he". "He" can be a gender-neutral pronoun in these cases; it's the closest thing the English language has other than "it", which is just condescending.

As pointed out though, Nintendo can and does use "it" for characters like Pikachu.

 

[Kangi]

In the anime (i'm the only one that saw it?) he's a male. Soooo... yes, he's male. Incredible, right?

1.) I've seen the anime as well, and he's referred to as "he", which is gender-neutral. Maybe it's different in the dubbed version; that I don't know. 2.) The anime is so far from being canon it's not even funny.

As pointed out though, Nintendo can and does use "it" for characters like Pikachu.

Because Pikachu is a Pokemon, and Pikachus can be both male and female. Pokemon being referred to as you would refer to an animal isn't strange. Kirby being referred to as such would be, since outside of specific storylines he's a singular entity.

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

There's no place for your childish genital essentialism in this world, but especially not a thread about Nintendo games. Nintendo have several trans* and non-binary characters, and have been making them since 1986 (if not earlier), so it's a perfectly valid topic of discussion. Anyway, I sent the comic around to a few friends: they all thought it was taking a shot at trans* sex workers.

Personally, I'm disappointed at the folk taking cheap shots at kittens for acknowledging that trans* folk are forced to do sex work at a disproportionately high rate among the general population. Just because you're ignorant of marginalized people's realities doesn't mean you need to attack someone for bringing a different perspective that challenges your outdated norms and stereotypes. Of course, given its time of publication and the author, I highly doubt it was intentionally about trans* sex workers. However, it's always a good time for people to learn about lives besides their own and maybe even have a shot at developing something resembling empathy.

Do you not know the difference between sex and gender? Sex is absolutely binary. It always will be. When I call someone a male or female, I'm referring to them by their sex because god fucking knows I can't identify their gender. I can't read their minds. Because gender isn't binary, according to you and some others, I'd rather make things simple and refer to them by their sex, which is either male or female. I'm not using your 150 stupid terms for gender.

And don't tell me I don't know their sex before seeing their genitals. Seriously.

 

[Missing.No]

1.) I've seen the anime as well, and he's referred to as "he", which is gender-neutral. Maybe it's different in the dubbed version; that I don't know. 2.) The anime is so far from being canon it's not even funny.

Maybe it's not canon but... you know, there are a couple of cut-scenes where he's kissed by female characters... so, male or lesbian? I think "male" is more... Nintendo.

 

[Erin S Kittens]

Do you not know the difference between sex and gender? Sex is absolutely binary. It always will be. When I call someone a male or female, I'm referring to them by their sex because god fucking knows I can't identify their gender. I can't read their minds. Because gender isn't binary, according to you and some others, I'd rather make things simple and refer to them by their sex, which is either male or female. I'm not using your 150 stupid terms for gender.

And don't tell me I don't know their sex before seeing their genitals. Seriously.

My sex is neither completely female nor male, but people seem to read my more normal gender with 100% accuracy. Wonder how that is?

 

[Roto13]

Who knew kittens could ruin something on the internet?

 

[Toparaman]

Why does she start crying when she kisses Kirby? Does Kirbys breath smell or something?

She's blushing and trying to hide her embarrassment.

Spoiler

It's adorable.

EDIT: I just noticed that what Kirby does is very similar to a certain popular GIF.

 

[Kangi]

Do you not know the difference between sex and gender? Sex is absolutely binary. It always will be.

Intersex people (a.k.a. hermaphrodites) say "hi".

Maybe it's not canon but... you know, there are a couple of cut-scenes where he's kissed by female characters... so, male or lesbian? I think "male" is more... Nintendo.

Eh, those are what make me lean toward his being male, but pecks on the cheek don't necessarily have to mean much.

 

[TheShampion]

Thanks to this thread, I see Kirby as one of the most prominant and obvious uses of yonic imagery in video games that doesn't veer into dentata territory.

 

[Missing.No]

Intersex people (a.k.a. hermaphrodites) say "hi".



Eh, those are what make me lean toward his being male, but pecks on the cheek don't necessarily have to mean much.

but hey, it's just a theory... A GAME THEORY.
...sorry...but...i couldnt resist.

 

[RM8]

Nintendo is not that subtle, guys. Nintendo females usually have bows, girly hair and stuff like that. Kirby is definitely a male, I think.

 

[kittens]

There's no place for your childish genital essentialism in this world, but especially not a thread about Nintendo games. Nintendo have several trans* and non-binary characters, and have been making them since 1986 (if not earlier), so it's a perfectly valid topic of discussion. Anyway, I sent the comic around to a few friends: they all thought it was taking a shot at trans* sex workers.

Personally, I'm disappointed at the folk taking cheap shots at kittens for acknowledging that trans* folk are forced to do sex work at a disproportionately high rate among the general population. Just because you're ignorant of marginalized people's realities doesn't mean you need to attack someone for bringing a different perspective that challenges your outdated norms and stereotypes. Of course, given its time of publication and the author, I highly doubt it was intentionally about trans* sex workers. However, it's always a good time for people to learn about lives besides their own and maybe even have a shot at developing something resembling empathy.

Dang, kittens unite! I echo all your points. I'm okay with people not getting where I'm coming from, but the "you're trying to be offended" stuff is super immature and not helping anyone. Gender is a suuuuper complicated topic of discussion and demands that we talk about it in all its complicatedness. I'm annoyed that my questions about the VG Cats topic turned into such a huge derail, but I suppose the ensuing discussing is relevant to the Kirby discussion in some ways, too. Anyways, I've got to run to work, so I'm ducking out of this thread for now.

 

[hbkajshdvfbkjhvgkahsgdfka]

He is in the fan fic I'm writing for narrative reasons.

 

[Vigilant Gambit]

Why are you forcing Kirby into a ginder binary?

Can I be the first to ask... why does it matter?

Came here to post these.

Also, for everyone looking up instances of Nintendo officially referring to Kirby in the feminine or masculine, or making statements about sex vs. gender and what means what...

It's pretty important to recognize that the very concepts of "sex" and "gender" are human constructs that nature doesn't actually acknowledge or care about.

tl;dr: The very title of this thread isn't asking a very constructive question at all (unless the goal was to get people thinking/talking about the concept of genders).

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

My sex is neither completely female nor male, but people seem to read my more normal gender with 100% accuracy. Wonder how that is?

Intersex people (a.k.a. hermaphrodites) say "hi".



Eh, those are what make me lean toward his being male, but pecks on the cheek don't necessarily have to mean much.

Okay, then obviously I'm going to classify you as what you outwardly express yourself as until I'm corrected. That's what everyone does. How is that being insensitive? If you look and act like a girl, I will assume you have a vagina.

 

[Zaventem]

I always though of it as an "it" or thing lol. Nintendo of America definitely plays up the "i'm so rough and tough" associated with stereotypical male games for kirby though, and i have no idea why. See almost every western kirby boxart.

 

[LoveCake]

I have never really thought about it before, i have always assumed Kirby is a male alien, however aliens may have more than two gender types, what if Kirby is a silicon based lifeform or even from another dimension ?

We need more info !

 

[Some Nobody]

*sees thread direction*

Uh-huh. Nothing good can come from continued discussion here. *sees himself out*

 

[Cbajd5]

Kirby's gender doesn't matter.

If Kirby wants to be male he can be. (by eating a man)

If Kirby wants to be female she can be. (by eating a woman)

If Kirby wants to be an inanimate object given life, well Kirby can be that too. (by eating an inanimate object)

And if Kirby wants to DEVOUR EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE TO BECOME THE GOD THAT KIRBY IS, well Kirby can just go and do that too.

(Although for convenience's sake I think most people refer to Kirby with male pronouns.)

 

[maxcriden]

tl;dr: The very title of this thread isn't asking a very constructive question at all (unless the goal was to get people thinking/talking about the concept of genders).

That kind of was the goal, at least in part. I think it's proven to be a valid entry point to this discussion, though.

 

[Ashodin]

In the anime there was a monster that had the power to split people into opposite sex halves. This is what happened when it attacked Kirby:

And then this happened:

That "put a bow on it" trope come to life

 

[Red Chocobo]

It's like the Birdo thing all over again

Spoiler

Screw Nintendo. Birdo is still male to me

 

[Missing.No]

GUYS, I SOLVED THE MISTERY!

Kirby... is a Ditto!

 

[Calamari41]

Yeah, I don't think Nintendo are looking at this stuff through the eyes of a militant gender studies major.

 

[border]

Because Pikachu is a Pokemon, and Pikachus can be both male and female. Pokemon being referred to as you would refer to an animal isn't strange. Kirby being referred to as such would be, since outside of specific storylines he's a singular entity.

So if "he/him" is not indicative of Kirby's gender, what would be? Nintendo is probably not going to make a game where Kirby whips his cock out. You could make all these same arguments about Link or Mario, could you not? Shit, Link even wears a skirt.

 

[Kangi]

So if "he/him" is not indicative of Kirby's gender, what would be? Nintendo is probably not going to make a game where he whips his cock out.

Nothing is, and nothing has to be. Hence the argument of his not having a traditional gender.

You could make all these same arguments about Link or Mario, could you not? Shit, Link even wears a skirt.

Mario and Link both have obvious characteristics indicative of their being male, whereas Kirby does not. Kirby doesn't have a mustache, speak in a gruff voice, have a princess love interest, have male bodily traits, etc.

 

[GamingIsDead]

Kirby's gender doesn't matter.

If Kirby wants to be male he can be. (by eating a man)

If Kirby wants to be female she can be. (by eating a woman)

If Kirby wants to be an inanimate object given life, well Kirby can be that too. (by eating an inanimate object)

And if Kirby wants to DEVOUR EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE TO BECOME THE GOD THAT KIRBY IS, well Kirby can just go and do that too.

(Although for convenience's sake I think most people refer to Kirby with male pronouns.)

This is how I see it. Kirby can change to what ever depending on the situation. Still think 'it' defaults to male though.

 

[RM8]

Unless Kirby and Ribbon are lesbians, and that's even less likely coming from Nintendo than Kirby being a female without any bow, eyelashes or other stereotypical female-like trait, I think it's safe to say he's a male, really.

 

[Missing.No]

Nothing is, and nothing has to be. Hence the argument of his not having a traditional gender.

Discussing about kirby's gender is like discussing about Peach's virginity.