Introduction
Elon Musk, the world’s second richest man and pioneer of modern day space technology, has an impressive 23 year-old daughter, X Æ A-12 Musk. Since her birth, speculation has surrounded her gender identity and in recent years her father has hinted that X Æ A-12 is trans.
Background Information
Growing up with one of the most famous and well-renowned entrepreneurs of our time, X Æ A-12 has been a curious enigma, captivating the public with her enigmatic aura and presence in social circles. She came into the public limelight two years ago when she made an appearance in the music video of Lil Uzi Vert’s song, ‘’That’s a Rack’’. Musk was an executive producer for the video. Even though X Æ A-12 kept her social media presence low-key, her Instagram account (@xaea12) has amassed around 139K followers.
Appearing Gender Fluid
In a June 2020 interview with The New York Times, Musk revealed that X Æ A-12, and his youngest son, had no gender preference and that they appeared to identify as ‘’gender fluid’’. Musks went on further to explain that X Æ A-12 gravitates towards wearing more masculine clothing. This fuelled speculation and gave rise to questions regarding X Æ A-12’s gender identity.
Social Media Speculation
The social media sphere, filled with curious onlookers, erupted with speculation about X Æ A-12. People took to forums and social media platforms to express their thoughts and ask questions about her gender identity. Some speculated that X Æ A-12 was genderfluid while others argued that she was a transgender man, while a sizable group argued that she is gender non-conforming. As more questions were asked regarding X Æ A-12’s gender, more people began expressing their opinions and the discussion quickly became heated.
The Duo’s Response
After two years of speculation and unabated internet debate, X Æ A-12 and Elon Musk finally addressed the speculation in a joint statement on twitter. The tweet stated that, from an early age, X Æ A-12 had described herself as a soft-boi, and that she was comfortable with these pronouns. The statement also said that X Æ A-12 and her father had actively identified as queer for a long time and that her presence has been the source of great joy for the family.
The Reactions
The reactions to the statement were largely positive and there was further speculation that Musk was offering a very progressive view of gender fluidity. Nonetheless, people still remain uncertain as to X Æ A-12’s exact identity and it has yet to be a topic of direct conversation between her and the public.
Analysis
The mere fact that Musk is comfortable talking about his daughter’s gender identity, in a world where gender non-conformity is often seen as taboo, suggests that he is a progressive parent and is comfortable providing his daughter with the space she needs to figure out her own gender identity. Despite the speculation and questions, it seems as if X Æ A-12 and her father both prefer to remain tight-lipped about the topic.
Experts’ Perspectives
Gender specialists around the world have praised Musk for his progressive stance on gender identity and providing X Æ A-12 with the space she needs to identify as she wishes. Soraya Chemaly, a long-time gender specialist and advocate of LGBT rights, commended Musk on Twitter by tweeting, “This is exactly how parents should support young people as they explore gender and its many facets.”
Societal Relevance
The discussion surrounding X Æ A-12’s gender identity drives to the heart of the conversation on properly supporting gender non-conformity and allowing children to express their gender however they identify. Such progressive discussions are often absent in many circles and Musk’s stance serves to give those who have gender-related dilemmas a platform and a beacon of light.
Conclusion
While X Æ A-12’s gender identity still remains uncertain and is an intensely personal, complex and emotional journey that only she can make, it is clear that her father is showing some truly progressive views. Musk is providing the environment and support necessary for her to be fully confident to explore her gender identity.
