Beyond the Binary: How Nonbinary Individuals Challenge Gender and Other Social Constructs

Abstract

Nonbinary individuals make up about one third of the trans community and experience high rates of discrimination, poverty, mental illness and suicide, and marginalization even within the LGBTQIA community. Still, research on this minority group is scarce. The current research utilizes in-depth, in-person interviewing to explore nonbinary individuals' understanding of the gender binary, their motivation to identify outside of the gender binary, and how they navigate the social world. The most significant finding of this research shows that nonbinary individuals undermine multiple social constructs besides gender including relationship configuration, sexuality, religion, political-economic stance, and others. Additionally, transmedicalists and nonbinary people experience intra-community conflicts that may hinder progress around trans acceptance in the national conversation. Conclusions include a recommendation for comprehensive gender education and rigorous self-reflection for cisgender people (like that done by nonbinary individuals) may help advance rights for gender minorities.