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\u2019ll explore the definition of this term, what everyone should know about it, and examples of nonbinary identities and terms.<\/p>\n
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. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n When it appears in discussions about the gender binary, the term “nonbinary” refers to gender identities that don\u2019t 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\u2019s also important to recognize the differences between gender, sex and sexuality. A person\u2019s gender identity is separate from their sexual or romantic orientation. Gender is also distinct from sex<\/a>, which refers to a set of biological attributes. While sex is usually categorized as either male or female, there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Many nonbinary people also identify as transgender. How are these terms similar or different from each other? Transgender (abbreviated as \u201ctrans\u201d) refers to gender identities that don\u2019t 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 \u201ccisgender.\u201d Because nonbinary people don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Are you interested in learning more about gender identity? Here\u2019s our list of five <\/em>gender identity courses<\/em><\/a> available online. <\/em><\/p>\n A person\u2019s 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:<\/p>\n 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\u2019t 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 \u201crecognized, revered, and integrated\u201d<\/a> more than the male and female genders for hundreds if not thousands of years. Some examples include Hawaii, Thailand, Madagascar, New Zealand and Peru.<\/p>\n Using someone\u2019s proper pronouns is respectful. Because nonbinary people don\u2019t adhere to the gender binary, many use the neutral pronouns \u201cthey\u201d and \u201cthem.\u201d However, not all nonbinary people use these pronouns, so it\u2019s important to politely ask if you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n Nonbinary people can embody a variety of gender expressions as well as pronouns. What is gender expression? It\u2019s 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\u2019s a deeply personal and flexible decision. As an example, a nonbinary person can wear dresses and makeup – which are stereotypically female – and remain nonbinary.<\/p>\n Intersex people have genes and\/or anatomy that don\u2019t 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<\/a> in the world have intersex characteristics. While someone\u2019s genes or anatomy may not fit into a male or female binary, it doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re nonbinary. Gender identity is different, so intersex people can identify as male, female, nonbinary or any other gender identity.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Interested in learning more about trans rights and why they matter? Here\u2019s <\/em>our article<\/em><\/a> on the topic. <\/em><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s the definition of nonbinary? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
How are the terms \u201ctransgender\u201d and \u201cnonbinary\u201d related? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
What should everyone know about the nonbinary identity? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
#1. Nonbinary people have always existed<\/strong><\/h3>\n
#2. Nonbinary people use a variety of pronouns<\/strong><\/h3>\n
#3. Nonbinary people vary in gender expressions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
#4. Being nonbinary is not the same as being intersex <\/strong><\/h3>\n
#5. Nonbinary people often face an increased risk of violence and discrimination <\/strong><\/h3>\n