Demi Lovato has revealed that if they "had listened to the patriarchy" then their life would "have never changed".
Earlier this month, Lovato revealed in a candid video posted to their social media channels that they were "proud" to be non-binary and that they would "officially be changing their pronouns to they/them."
The 28-year-old added that they hoped their announcement helped "those out there that haven’t been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones".
Now, the 'Cool for the Summer' singer has spoken out about their journey to coming out as non-binary and how the patriarchy almost prevented them from being their true self.
Watch Lovato's announcement below:Speaking to actress and activist Jane Fonda on her Fire Drill Fridays live-stream, Lovato said: "If I had listened to the patriarchy, my life would have never changed, my pronouns would have never changed."
"I probably would have been married to a man with kids doing the thing that I was raised to believe that I should do," they added.
Lovato ended their engagement to fellow actor Max Erich after two months last year.
They continued: "After years of living my life for other people, trying to make myself smaller for the patriarchy... They run the industry, they are at the center of everything.
"When I realized that, I thought, 'What are the ways that the patriarchy has been holding me back?' And for me, it was putting me in a box telling [me], 'You are a female, this is what you're supposed to like, this is what you're supposed to do, don't dream bigger and don't speak louder.'"
Lovato continued: "That didn't vibe for me because I'm too outspoken for that."
The beloved Camp Rock star then revealed that they believe their near-fatal overdose back in 2018 occurred because they was "ignoring their truth".
"I was suppressing who I really am in order to please stylists or team members or this or that," they said, adding: "Or even fans that wanted me to be the sexy, feminine pop star in the leotard and look a certain way, you know?"
After revealing that they were non-binary earlier this month, Lovato explained why they have chosen to use the "they/them" pronouns.
"I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am, and am still discovering," they said.
