With the invention of the term “nonbinary,” we’ve seen an unprecedented number of young people claiming to feel like neither a man nor a woman. Today, we explore Ian Hacking’s concept of “making people up” and the creation of new classifications and “types” of people. Several questions also arise: does a non-binary identification require medicalization? What personality traits may correlate with this identity and is it different in males and females? For parents, how might one respond when a timid child quietly says “No” to the “gender binary?” And what role does non-binary label play as individuals step in and step out of trans identification?

Links:

Gender Census: Gendercensus.com/results/2021-worldwide/#pronouns

Kori and Searyl Doty: Theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/08/parent-raising-gender-free-child

Jamie Shupe: Theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/16/jamie-shupe-first-non-binary-person-oregon

Jamie Shupe: Twitter.com/notabledesister

Lisa Shupe interviewed on Transparency Podcast: Youtube.com/watch?v=edzyk-TQhEY

Sam Smith: Theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/sam-smith-on-being-non-binary-im-changing-my-pronouns-to-theythem

Sam Smith and Alok: Mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/sam-smith-alok-vaid-menon-20126943

Alice Hope’s YouTube video: Youtube.com/watch?v=9WJBp3eEhqY

Extended Notes:

• Parents feel so old when the term “nonbinary” gets thrown around. What does it mean?
• Sasha gives a bit of context and the definition of the word.
• Nonbinary people have an element of protest. They’re completely opting out of the “normal.”
• The term “nonbinary” really started picking up speed in 2014 and having it skyrocket in 2019.
• Are nonbinary identities just a stepping stone into trans identity?
• A lot of nonbinary females think they should have top surgery, which helps them with their image that they’re in this “neither/or” gender space.
• Can you inflict your ideologies on a little child? Stella feels like the answer should be no.
• There is controversy on listing two mothers or two fathers on the birth certificate. It’s a bit like stretching the truth/reality.
• The average 14-year-old female calls herself nonbinary. What’s going on here?
• Are our sexual differences causing distress among teenagers? Do they wish for a simpler time where none of this gender stuff matters?
• It’s a bit of a confusing thing, you shouldn’t go by looks but a lot of these gender identities use looks as a baseline.
• Can you be nonbinary while also looking very female or very male?
• How do you know if something is a singular and not a plural when you’re using the “they” pronoun.
• How do parents manage other children who are calling themselves they/them?
Sasha wonders if saying you’re nonbinary is due to some uneasiness that’s happening in their lives, some form of trauma or unhappiness...

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