Hello! I checked your search and I couldn't find an answer to my question, but I apologize if you have been asked this before. You're really knowledgeable about gender and identify yourself as both trans and non-binary. I'm very confused about how to personally identify and I'm looking for help. What's the difference between trans and non-binary? I had always thought trans was binary (trans women or men) but I'm coming to learn this isn't true. Is trans just "transcending" societal gender ideas?
In the case of transgender just being “transcending” beyond normal societal expectations (genderqueerid(.)com(/)gq-terms), does this mean as a non-binary/genderfluid/demi-girl (afab) I am considered trans? Thank you in advanced for your response or even just reading the question. I really appreciate all of your work and you’ve taught me A LOT!
Some nonbinary people identify as trans and some do not. It’s up to you, it’s pretty much a personal decision.
I’ve never heard that definition of trans before. I have some problems with that definition. There are a lot of trans binary people who do not see their gender that way and that’s not how the term was really created. The root “trans” means “on or to the other side of” and cis means “on the same side of.” Typically, I see trans defined as identifying as a gender other than what you were assigned at birth. I’m not saying no individual couldn’t define trans like you did for themselves as “transcending” gender ideas, but that definition seems a lot more like it applies to nonbinary people and only certain binary people. There are trans people who don’t see it that way especially binary trans women and trans men, who often see themselves as men and women. For example, there are some trans women who are butch or really challenge gender ideas and roles in other ways, but there are others who are feminine and want to be perceived just as a normal woman. It depends on the person.
To be fair, trans has some connotations I think some nonbinary people feel don’t apply to them. Many people associate being trans with transitioning and/or living life as a gender other than what they were assigned and changing significant aspects of their presentation, legal documentation, social relationships, etc. Not all binary people physically transition, of course, but most will socially live as the gender they identify as, and yet this isn’t always true or possible for nonbinary people. So it may be true that, because some nonbinary people live their lives legally and socially as the gender they were assigned because living as the nonbinary gender they identify as isn’t possible (and they feel more comfortable with their assigned gender than the opposite gender) many nonbinary people may feel their experience differs too much from the trans experience as it is typically understood (radical transition socially or physically or both). Some nonbinary people do prefer to be perceived as the opposite gender at all times and may even physically transition. It depends on the person and their identity. I don’t think that’s necessary to be considered trans, but some people may feel uncomfortable with the label if they don’t have that experience of social or physical transition.
There are other reasons probably. Perhaps they feel the label just doesn’t fit them. I for a time did not identify as trans. Sometimes I question the identifier for myself. I personally am usually seen as a cis woman even though I don’t identify that way and I probably won’t change my legal information to male or use hormones. I’ve taken steps to change my wardrobe and presentation and pass as male when I want to, but it’s difficult. So I don’t know. I personally think that anyone who doesn’t identify as the gender they were at birth can identify as trans if they so choose, but it’s not a requirement. There are also PoC and nonwhite people whose cultures have other ways of denoting/organizing gender and have different labels they prefer (like two-spirit among Native American people), and who for that reason don’t want the term trans. So like with any label it’s a personal matter.
