- What does ‘non-binary’ mean?
- What does it mean to be non-binary?
- Has the meaning of non-binary changed over time?
- Does ‘non-binary’ mean transgender?
- Does ‘non-binary’ mean gay?
- Does being non-binary mean being androgynous?
- Are intersex people non-binary?
- Does non-binary exist in other cultures?
- Why are pronouns and gender designations so important, anyway?
Everything You Never Understood About Being Non-Binary
‘Non-binary’ is a term that’s come into public focus in recent years, though the concept is by no means new.
The term non-binary, meaning to exist outside the traditional gender binary of male and female, has been popularized and politicized in the public discourse within the last several decades. However, similar concepts have long existed in different cultures.
Nonetheless, much of the language surrounding the non-binary identity remains interpretable on a case-by-case basis, and much more nuanced than one might expect.
It may be hard for cisgender people, or even some transgender people, to understand the experience of non-binary people. Speaking from research, and an admittedly cisgender perspective, here are some things cisgender people may not understand about being non-binary.
What does ‘non-binary’ mean?
The term non-binary means to exist outside of the traditional gender binary of male and female.
What does it mean to be non-binary?
Within this definition, someone with a non-binary identity could manifest in various ways. Someone could identify as multiple genders, a singular third-gender, in between genders, or as no gender at all.
Someone could also identify as within and outside of the binary at the same time, such as identifying as either a non-binary man or a non-binary woman.
Has the meaning of non-binary changed over time?
Well, that depends on who you ask.
Different cultures have had words for people relating to the non-binary, without necessarily using that term.
Such terms include the hijra of South Asia or the various iterations of two-spirit within Indigenous culture.
However, those individual terms have a wide range of meanings, many of which included being homosexual, intersex or transgender.
Does non-binary mean transgender?
Simply put, yes and no.
Again, it depends on who you ask.
Many transgender people identify as non-binary since the identity theoretically involves transitioning outside of the gender binary.
However, more non-binary people identify as cisgender than transgender.
Often, transgender serves as an umbrella term that can mean either its own gender identity or anything outside of the gender binary.
Overall, the nuance of the issue speaks to the individual nature of gender identity.
Does non-binary mean gay?
Generally speaking, no.
Gender identity and sexual orientation can often separately coexist within non-binary people, and they may identify with various sexual orientations in addition to being nonbinary.
Does being non-binary mean being androgynous?
Not necessarily.
The spectrum of gender expression is nearly as varied as the spectrum of gender itself.
While androgyny may align with someone’s gender identity, a non-binary person could also resonate similarly with traditionally feminine or masculine characteristics.
Are intersex people non-binary?
Again, not necessarily.
While intersex people, or those sex characteristics of more than one gender, may identify as non-binary, anatomy and gender identity are not inherently connected.
Does non-binary exist in other cultures?
Absolutely…
In fact, the concept has existed in various forms for centuries. Here are two examples.
Research shows that numerous Native American tribes have long had vocabulary to describe people outside of the gender norm, dating back to at least pre-colonial times. In fact, it has been suggested that the acknowledgment of a third gender may have been “a unifying feature” of various pre-colonial cultures.
Most of the scholarly observation of sexuality at this time in American culture is based on the journals of colonizers.
Such accounts describe the commonality of non-traditional gender roles, ranging from men married to men (berdache), to “passing women,” or people assigned female at birth who fulfilled conventionally male roles in their communities.
Why are pronouns and gender designations so important, anyway?
‘Pronouns’ have become quite a hot topic these days; they’ve been mocked, debated, denied, and championed.
The discourse can beg the question of why they’re so important in the first place and urge us to examine how language shapes our relationship to the world.
By using someone’s correct pronouns, you are showing respect for that person’s relationship to language and how that shapes their experience.
The power of words is similarly observed with gender designations on government and medical documents.
The issue has become especially relevant recently with President Trump’s wide-sweeping executive order demanding federal agencies to use the term ‘sex’ instead of ‘gender’ and to print a person’s sex assigned at birth on government documents, as well as enforcing single-sex bathrooms with the same criteria.
However, a White House official stated the policy toward gender designation on government documents “will not be applied retroactively.”
The order compelled seven individuals to file a lawsuit in federal court.
It is an issue that affects people personally, and designations on official documents can help either ease or compound those issues.