Facebook now allows you to customize your own gender options

Facebook is making it easier for those who don’t want to conform to traditional gender labels to describe their gender in their own words rather than having to choose for a list of pre-made options. As Facebook Diversity explains in a statement, “We recognize that some people face challenges sharing their true gender identity with others, and this setting gives people the ability to express themselves in an authentic way.”

Facebook is now giving users unlimited possibilities when it comes to gender identity. The social network updated its site Thursday with a new custom field in profiles’ gender section. The field allows users to type in anything they want. Previously, Facebook provided a preset list, consisting of a few dozen options. Now, you can choose either male, female or custom. If you choose custom, you can type anything you want into the field. “As before, you can add up to ten gender terms and also have the ability to control the audience with whom you would like to share your custom gender,” the company wrote in a statement on its diversity page. “We recognize that some people face challenges sharing their true gender identity with others, and this setting gives people the ability to express themselves in an authentic way.”