The gender binary teaches that people must be either exclusively male or exclusively female, but humans are much more complex and nuanced. This has been the case for thousands of years. Across the world, people have embodied a wide range of gender identities and expressions unrelated to their physical anatomy or genetic makeup. When someone identifies as neither exclusively male nor female, they are nonbinary. In this article, we’ll explore the definition of this term, what everyone should know about it, and examples of nonbinary identities and terms.
Being nonbinary means not identifying as exclusively male or female. A nonbinary person may identify more with a certain gender, with all genders or with no gender at all. Within the nonbinary community, people identify with a wide variety of pronouns, sexual orientations and gender expressions.
What’s the definition of nonbinary?
Before we explore what being nonbinary means, we have to first define the binary. The gender binary is the concept that only two genders – male and female – exist. The binary also assumes that gender is fixed, that gender and sex should always correlate, and that people should conform to expectations of their gender. Western cultures tend to adhere to the gender binary, which leads some to mistakenly believe the binary is ingrained in human nature. There are many examples of multi-gender systems, however, which support the theory that gender is a social and political construct.
When it appears in discussions about the gender binary, the term “nonbinary” refers to gender identities that don’t adhere to the strict male/female system. People who embrace this identity may identify with certain genders more than others, all genders at once or no gender at all. Gender expressions vary significantly, as well. It’s also important to recognize the differences between gender, sex and sexuality. A person’s gender identity is separate from their sexual or romantic orientation. Gender is also distinct from sex, which refers to a set of biological attributes. While sex is usually categorized as either male or female, there’s variation. Gender is socially constructed and flexible, so people who are nonbinary may shift the identities and terms that feel the most comfortable over time.
How are the terms “transgender” and “nonbinary” related?
Many nonbinary people also identify as transgender. How are these terms similar or different from each other? Transgender (abbreviated as “trans”) refers to gender identities that don’t align with the sex a person was assigned at birth. As an example, when someone assigned female at birth identifies as a man, they are a trans man. Conversely, when someone does identify with the sex they were assigned at birth, they are “cisgender.” Because nonbinary people don’t identify exclusively with the sex they were assigned at birth, they are part of the transgender community. Whether or not a nonbinary person describes themselves as trans is a personal choice.
Are you interested in learning more about gender identity? Here’s our list of five gender identity courses available online.
What should everyone know about the nonbinary identity?
A person’s gender identity and gender expressions are deeply personal, but certain facts help increase recognition and acceptance in society. Here are five of the most important:
#1. Nonbinary people have always existed
When it comes to gender diversity, skeptics often question the credibility of identities by pointing out how new the terms are. While the creation of new terms and expressions doesn’t automatically negate their legitimacy, the fact is that nonbinary people have always existed. According to a PBS map of gender-diverse cultures, multiple countries have “recognized, revered, and integrated” more than the male and female genders for hundreds if not thousands of years. Some examples include Hawaii, Thailand, Madagascar, New Zealand and Peru.
#2. Nonbinary people use a variety of pronouns
Using someone’s proper pronouns is respectful. Because nonbinary people don’t adhere to the gender binary, many use the neutral pronouns “they” and “them.” However, not all nonbinary people use these pronouns, so it’s important to politely ask if you’re not sure. Nonbinary people can use any pronoun or no pronouns. Some examples include he/him/his, she/her/hers, ze/zir/zirs, and ze/hir/hirs.
#3. Nonbinary people vary in gender expressions
Nonbinary people can embody a variety of gender expressions as well as pronouns. What is gender expression? It’s how a person publically presents their gender through clothing, hairstyle, makeup, jewelry, body language, voice and so on. While certain gender expressions are associated with specific genders, people can experiment with their gender expression without changing their gender. Not all nonbinary people reject male or female gender expressions; it’s a deeply personal and flexible decision. As an example, a nonbinary person can wear dresses and makeup – which are stereotypically female – and remain nonbinary.
#4. Being nonbinary is not the same as being intersex
Intersex people have genes and/or anatomy that don’t fall into an exclusively male/female binary, but being intersex is not the same as being nonbinary. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the reason why people are intersex (which is not a disease or disorder) is a mystery. It could be because of changes to certain genes or hormone exposure during embryo development. About 2% of people in the world have intersex characteristics. While someone’s genes or anatomy may not fit into a male or female binary, it doesn’t mean they’re nonbinary. Gender identity is different, so intersex people can identify as male, female, nonbinary or any other gender identity.
#5. Nonbinary people often face an increased risk of violence and discrimination
While nonbinary people and other gender-diverse people have lived in societies for thousands of years, they are often treated as an existential threat. According to the United Nations, gender-diverse people are often bullied, rejected by their families and denied access to employment and housing. They also face increased risks for prejudice, harassment and violence, including violence within medical settings. Nonbinary people who are also members of other marginalized groups, like ethnic minorities, are targeted even more harshly. Legal protections, increased awareness of the challenges facing nonbinary people and more acceptance are key to a healthy society.
Interested in learning more about trans rights and why they matter? Here’s our article on the topic.
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What are examples of nonbinary identities and terms?
Because it applies to anyone who doesn’t conform to traditional ideas of gender, nonbinary is an umbrella term. There are several examples of identities and terms beneath this umbrella. Here are eight:
#1. Genderqueer
Genderqueer appeared as a term in zines from the 1980s, and was more commonly used before the term “nonbinary.” Like nonbinary, genderqueer describes identities that don’t fall within traditional gender binaries. For some, genderqueer means moving between a variety of gender identities or expressions, while others use it more generally to mean any non-cisgender identity.
#2. Gender fluid
When someone uses the term “gender fluid,” they are most likely describing flexibility regarding gender. They don’t identify with a set gender identity, so their identity and expression can shift and encompass one gender, multiple genders or no gender at all. It’s a fairly new term, and while it sounds very similar to nonbinary, not everyone who identifies as nonbinary also identifies as gender fluid.
#3. Agender
Agender people don’t identify with any gender in particular. They may also use the terms “gender-free” or “genderless.” Regarding pronouns, agender people may have a preference or ask others to avoid using gendered language as much as possible. Being agender is not the same as being asexual; agender people can be any sexual orientation.
#4. Pangender
When someone is pangender, it means their gender identity includes multiple genders. They may identify with all (or some) of them all at once, or in a fluid, flexible way. Pangender people can also be gender fluid.
#5. Demigender
Demigender refers to those who partially or mostly identify both with one gender and other genders (or no gender). As an example, a demiboy identifies at least partially with the male gender, but not completely, which is why they’re still nonbinary.
#6. Bigender
If someone identifies with both male and female genders, they may identify as “bigender.” Bigender identities aren’t limited to just male or female, however. They identify with at least two genders. The term was first coined in 1988. Bigender people may express one gender identity at a time, some of their genders, or all at once.
#7. Gender nonconforming
“Gender nonconforming” is a term referring to gender expression. When someone is gender nonconforming, it means they aren’t adhering to the appearance, behavior or expectations placed on them based on the gender they were assigned to at birth. People of any gender identity can be gender nonconforming, including cisgender people. As an example, a cisgender man can wear makeup or nail polish, which are stereotypically female behaviors, without changing his gender identity.
#8. Two-spirit
Many Indigenous cultures in North America embraced more than two genders. These nonbinary people often fulfilled specific roles, such as caretakers, medicine people, dancers and treaty negotiators. Two-spirit is a term used by some North American Indigenous people to describe this identity. It was coined in 1990, and while it was meant to replace more offensive descriptions, it’s not universally accepted. Many Indigenous cultures have their own terms to describe nonbinary people from their own communities.
