Non-Binary Genders
Alright, here we go. This isn’t going to be perfect, as I’m banging it out in one sitting and I have a frankly horrendous headache, but I’m never one to turn down the opportunity to write an essay, especially about a topic I care about.
Nonbinary: Any gender identity that doesn’t strictly fit within the male or female binary.
Genderqueer: An umbrella term with a similar meaning as nonbinary, it describes any gender identity other than man or woman, or a gender identity that is queer/non-normative. (It also might have a more political connotation?)
Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot of research into nonbinary/genderqueer identities, but we do know that it isn’t a new concept. Anthropologists are aware of what’s known as [cogender], although it’s unclear if this always refers to a ‘third gender’. A lot of the time, in many cultures, this refers to a change and/or sharing of traditional gender roles - i.e. amab people fulfilling traditionally ‘female’ roles and jobs; including marrying (wo)men and having children, embroidery, and decorating.
Some examples are the Indigenous Zapotec people in Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. Or there’s the Bugis people of Indonesia. You may have already heard of Two-Spirit, but there’s also Hijiras, who have legal recognition as a third gender in India and Bangladesh. There are loads more across the world, but these are just a few examples. If you want, I can come back and source more later.
There’s some discussion about gender being a social construct, but regardless of whether you believe that or not, there are issues with this theory, as it minimizes the experience of some trans people and perpetuates the argument “but if it’s all in our heads, why do you need to transition?” (Of course, transitioning is not mandatory, nor a prerequisite of being trans!).
Like I said, there’s a lack of studies and ‘scientific proof’, but here’s the thing: When you have dozens of cultures and thousands of people telling you they are not strictly male or female, when you have records of this occurring throughout history and across the world, there tends to be something to it. This is not a modern ‘Tumblr’ ideal - this is historic reality.
Need more help?
[Here], [Here], [Here], [Here], [Here], [Here], [Here], and [Here].
Ultimately, give me a long detailed explanation, with scientific sources, of male and female identities. Cisgender people are never asked to provide full freaking essays on their gender identities - it’s just taken at face value, without question. Just because it’s hard to wrap your mind around genders outside of the binary we’ve been trained to fit into, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Feel free to add onto this post, let me know if I got something wrong or missed something. But for the love of everything good left in the world, please don’t add negativity.