I prefer gender free role terms because I find myself freer to dance either role, because as a female presenting person the regular comments about why I’m in the ‘wrong’ place (when I’m not) or comments about how I’m a ‘funny looking gent’ or really any comments at all about my presence in a certain spot are entirely gone. It makes dancing so much more fun, and allows me to do both roles based on the people available to dance (I generally ask my partner and do whatever role they don’t prefer). I also like to be able to dance with beginners learning both roles and do whatever role they don’t prefer.

I generally find when we have fewer expectations around something, we’re able to enjoy whatever happens more, and gender free terms lower people’s expectations about the person coming toward them in line, allowing them to just enjoy rather than attempt control.