Star Trek: An Evolution of Genderless Aliens over Long History
Star Trek has been presenting genderless aliens for a long time, which is rather amazing. They first presented the totally genderless Medusans in the original Star Trek series, long ago. Later, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, they included the J'naii, another alien race devoid of gender identification. Since then, a long time has passed, and the franchise has kept stretching the bounds with shows like Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek: Discovery featuring a varied cast of characters including those who are genderless or gender-diverse.
J'untu from Star Trek: The Next Generation
In "The Outcast," one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's episodes, they debuted this alien species known as the J'naii, androgynous. They find the concept of gender kind of objectionable. In this episode, we meet Soren, a young J'naii who begins to identify as female—totally forbidden in their society. From the Enterprise-D, Commander Riker is rather drawn to Soren and they begin to get close. Their romance is cut short, though, when Soren is reported to the J'naii authorities for having ideas that might endanger their nation. Using a sort of therapy to eradicate any trace of a single gender, the J'naii go to rather extreme measures, so eradicating the emotions Soren experienced for Riker. This episode was quite strong and questioned human perceptions of gender identity by illustrating how alien civilizations might have entirely different ideas.
Zero—the Medusan from Star Trek: Prodigy
Zero was a young Medusan in Star Trek: Prodigy. The Medusans are quite amazing. They lack physical bodies, are telepathic, sympathetic, Zero has to dress in a suit to guard people from spiraling out upon seeing their actual form—which is rather intense. Zero is genderless, but they nonetheless want to live like their friends. They have questions about human senses, thus the narrative looks at this need. Zero even starts a close friendship with young Vulcan Maj'el, which might grow to be something more.
Star Trek has long explored many angles on gender and identity. The J'naii, the Medusans, and the characters in more recent shows including Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds have all helped to demonstrate that our perspective on gender is only one one way of thinking. Star Trek's long-standing pushing of these limits is rather amazing.
