For the most part, people typically fall into two categories: male or female—that idea is known as a gender binary. But not everyone fits so perfectly into the man-or-woman categories. That's where the term "non-binary" comes into play.
The Human Rights Campaign defined non-binary as "an adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman." The campaign additionally said that while some non-binary people also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people identify that way.
Essentially, non-binary—sometimes shortened to NB or enby—is a type of gender identity. "Some folks have an identity that fluctuates over time," Christy L. Olezeski, PhD, director of Yale Medicine's Gender Program, told Health. "Some individuals do not identify as male or female, but as a mixture of the two—something other than male or female or with no gender at all."
Similarly, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) also clarified that being non-binary is not the same as being intersex, or being born with anatomy that doesn't fit the typical definitions of male or female. The NCTE said most people born as intersex identify with a specific gender, while those who are non-binary are usually born with specifically male or female anatomy.
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While non-binary is a specific gender identity, it's also often used as an umbrella term for others who don't identify with being a man, a woman, or another gender. Per the NCTE, many non-binary individuals will simply identify as non-binary. However, according to a 2015 journal entry in the International Review of Psychiatry, there are also a number of specific ways non-binary people may identify. Because of that, "it is important to ask each individual how they identify," Dr. Olezeski said. Here's what a few non-binary gender identities look like:
- Agender: Like the name suggests, agender refers to having no gender identity or identifying as gender neutral.
- Bigender: Those who are bigender identify as having both gender identities of male or female. This can mean they switch from male to female or identify as both simultaneously.
- Gender fluid: The term gender fluid means that an individual moves between gender identities.
- Genderqueer: This term encompasses all people who identify as non-binary.
- Third Gender: Third gender is a term to describe anyone who doesn't identify with binary options. Hence, a third sex.
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What Pronouns Should You Use for Non-Binary People?
Olezeski urged the importance of being respectful of pronouns when describing a non-binary person. "They are not preferred pronouns, they are someone's pronouns," Olezeski reminded. "How would you feel if someone used the wrong pronouns for you?"
While most people who are non-binary prefer the pronoun "they," it never hurts to ask someone how they wish to be identified. If you want to do that but are still unsure how, it's helpful to offer your own pronouns first.
According to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, there are a number of pronouns that can be used:
- She, her, her, hers, and herself
- He, him, his, his, and himself
- They, them, their, theirs, and themself
- Ze/zie, hir, hir, hirs, and hirself
- Xe, xem, xyr, xyrs, and xemself
- Ve, ver, vis, vis, and verself
Once again, this comes down to respecting a person's identity. That means, first and foremost, using the chosen name and pronouns of all people, Olezeski said. It should be noted that you don't necessarily need to understand why a person uses the term non-binary to label themselves—just respect that decision and the person making it.
The NCTE also noted that you can't tell if someone identifies as non-binary just by looking at them, so leave any assumptions you have out of your relationships or interactions with non-binary people as well.
You can go further with being an advocate for the non-binary community by supporting their ability to live and dress how they want in all public places, especially at work and in school environments, the NCTE noted. A big area to pay attention to is bathroom use: "For many non-binary people, using either the women's or the men's room might feel unsafe, because others may verbally harass them or even physically attack them," per the NCTE. "Non-binary people should be supported by being able to use the restroom that they believe they will be safest in."
It's also essential to know that everyone's experience with being non-binary is different, and the only true way to understand and be an ally for the non-binary community is to familiarize yourself with those who identify as such—through talking to them and listening to their stories.
