Non-binary

LGBTQ-alphabet, Non binary spectrum (gender)

What does being nonbinary mean?

Non-binary is a term for people who do not identify as male or female. They fall outside the binary genders seen as the norm in many societies. Some feel partially related to both. Others experience their gender as something outside these categories.

The meaning of nonbinary varies from person to person. For some, it is a fixed identity. For another, it changes over time. Some people combine aspects of male and female. Other people reject that classification entirely. Some also use alternative terms such as genderqueer, or abbreviations such as NB and enby.

Non-binary refers to gender identity, not sexual orientation. In practice, this distinction is often not made. This leads to misunderstandings, for example about who someone finds attractive. Some people therefore use words like androsexual or gynosexual to describe their preference more clearly.

Non-binary people sometimes use terms of their own such as enbies, borls (similar to boys or girls), or enben (similar to men or women). Some count themselves as transgender; others do not. Whether someone considers themselves transgender depends on personal choice or how it relates to societal expectations.

Some non-binary people choose an androgynous appearance, a unisex name or a gender-neutral form of address. In Dutch, the pronouns “them” and “their” are often used. Others prefer a traditionally masculine or feminine presentation, or combine elements of both. Each of these choices is equally valid.

Saar knew from an early age that who did not identify with the terms boy or girl. At school, everyone was assigned to one of the two. She felt that it was not right for that one, but did not talk to anyoneabout it.

Who loved drawing, crafts and playing outside. He liked to wear comfortable clothes and did not like dressing up as a princess. If someone asked if she was a boy or a girl, she didn’t really know what to say.

When he was eleven, he came across the word non-binary on the Internet. He read what it meant and recognized himself in it. From then on he thought about it more often.

Later, a teacher at school asked about everyone’s pronouns. Saar said, “Those.” The teacher nodded. No one asked anything about it. Saar liked that it was accepted without explanation. Since then, Saar has used the word non-binary when someone asks about that gender.

Everything you want to know about being nonbinary

non-binary

How do you know if you are nonbinary? What should you do if you misgender someone? And what pronouns do you use? Great book if you are or know someone who is non-binary and for anyone who wants to know more about being able to treat non-binary people respectfully.

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Non-binary gender identities

A non-binary person chooses this term because it better fits their own gender experience. Non-binary falls outside the fixed classification of male or female. The group is very diverse and includes different identities. Some people feel simultaneously masculine and feminine. Others seek their own place outside both extremes.

Common non-binary gender identities include the following variants. Each term represents a different interpretation of gender outside the binary system. The underlying links point to more explanations for each identity. These examples show how broad non-binarity is. They help in finding an appropriate term.

  • Masculine and feminine at the same time: like androgynous
  • Between male and female: like intergender or demigender
  • Without gender or neutral: such as agender, neutrois or xenogender
  • Multiple gender identities: such as bigender, pangender or absorgender
  • Changing gender: such as gender fluid or gender flux
  • Culturally specific forms: such as the third sex, recognized within certain cultures or traditions
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Types of non-binary genders

Some non-binary people may be partially affiliated with or attuned to one or both of the binary genders. This means that they feel some degree of affinity with masculinity or femininity, without fully identifying as male or female.

  • Solarian: a male-oriented nonbinary person may have an experience that resembles manhood or have some attachment to masculinity, but is not a man or does not feel fully male.
  • Viabinary or ideobinary: non-binary people can feel connected to masculinity and/or femininity, but they do not have to. These terms refer to identities that consciously relate to the binary genders.
  • Androgynous, androgynous or mesobinary: people who sit between masculinity and femininity, or experience both simultaneously, sometimes use these terms. Androgynous often refers to a balance or combination of the two extremes.

Other non-binary genders are completely disconnected from the binary system. They are not connected to male or female, nor do they fall between the two. Nor are they necessarily the same as agender. Terms associated with them are abinary, unaligned, neutral, neutral-aligned, epicene or exobinary.

Non-binary people who are not male-aligned, female-aligned or neutral-aligned are sometimes called atrinary or outheriene. Many outheriene genders fall under the category of xenogender, a collective term for genders that fall outside the usual human understanding of gender.

Gender expression and transition

There is no fixed appearance that comes with being non-binary. Therefore, the way non-binary people transition also varies. Some do not choose to transition at all; others modify their appearance to better fit their gender identity.

Some non-binary people present themselves as the gender assigned to them at birth. Others choose to look like the opposite. Still others try to look as androgynous or gender neutral as possible. It is about what is right for themselves, not one set standard.

Some transition socially, such as by changing their name or form of address, without taking medical steps. Others adopt certain elements from binary transitions. For example, someone who is assigned female at birth may use testosterone or wear a binder without wanting to become fully male. This can help achieve an androgynous appearance.

Every form of transition is personal. The goal is not always to be somewhere in between or to make everything gender neutral. Instead, for some people it is important to keep or combine certain elements.

Pronouns or forms of address

Non-binary people each have their own preference for pronouns. Some use she/him or he/him. Others choose it/his, or use neo-pronouns. Some people use multiple sets interchangeably. Others prefer not to use pronouns at all, just their name.

It is not possible to infer on appearance what someone likes. The best way to find out is to simply ask. Many non-binary people appreciate it when someone takes care in addressing them and makes an effort to do so.

Some people find it difficult to use new pronouns. Yet it is no more complicated than getting used to a new name or title. Practicing and listening to a person’s own comments will naturally create clarity.

There are also gender-neutral pronouns in Dutch, such as die / diens and hen / hun. These are increasingly used and accepted in media, education and social situations.

Pronouns are not small details. They are part of how a person is recognized. Using pronouns correctly is a form of respect and affirmation.

History of non-binarity

Ancient history

Non-binary identities have existed for centuries in different cultures. In many societies, there were more than two recognized genders with their own roles and names. These genders were not seen as deviance but were given their own meanings. During colonization, many of these identities were supplanted by Western norms and laws. Yet they lived on in oral traditions, rituals and community roles.

  • Mesopotamia: In Mesopotamian mythology, there are references to people who are neither male nor female. Many priests performed religious duties as part of a third gender. These stories date back thousands of years. They show that non-binarity played an early role.
  • MāhÅ«: In Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) cultures, māhÅ« fulfilled spiritual roles within the community. The first Western description dates from 1789, when Captain William Bligh met a māhÅ« in Tahiti. He wrote that this person showed both masculine and feminine traits. This shows that gender diversity was recognized beyond Europe.
  • Tipitaka: The Buddhist Tipitaka names four genders: female, male, ubhatobyanjanaka (both male and female characteristics) and pandaka (without translation). This classification shows a recognized spectrum in ancient Southeast Asia. It illustrates that gender diversity was part of religion.
  • Native American tribes: Before Western influence, some tribes had third-gender roles. European anthropologists often called these people “berdaches,” which was perceived as a swear word. Since 1990, many have used the term Two-Spirit. That term stems from its own language and meaning.
  • Hijra: In the Indian subcontinent, different genders are collectively called hijra. They are neither fully male nor fully female and often have a female gender expression. This group has fulfilled social and religious roles since time immemorial. They still play a role in ceremonies and rituals.
  • Jewish texts: Six genders are mentioned in sacred Jewish writings, including zachar (cisgender men), nekeivah (cisgender women), ay’lonit, saris, androgynos (similar to androgynous) and tumtum. The classification shows that gender diversity was also recognized here. It shows a rich understanding of gender in the ancient world.
  • Bissu: In the Bugis culture of southern Indonesia, the bissu justify all gender aspects in one person. They play important roles in religious ceremonies. The Bugis traditionally knew five genders. They believed that harmony between these genders was necessary for peace.

Victorian century (17th-19th centuries)

In the Victorian era, a strict dichotomy emerged in Europe, but there were exceptions. Even then, people who did not feel at home in those binary rules existed. Legal and grammatical practices sometimes gave room for gender beyond male and female. Yet that often led to confusion or dehumanization.

  • Pronoun “it”: In 17th-century English laws about inheritance, “it” was sometimes used for people outside the binary system. This was seen as grammatically appropriate. At the same time, it dehumanized that group. The choice shows how language produces both recognition and exclusion.
  • Grammarians: Around 1745, grammarians argued that English had no neutral pronouns because Latin did not have them. They therefore recommended “he” as the default singular. That advice again limited language for gender-diverse people. It illustrates how language norms affect visibility.
  • Public Universal Friend: The Public Universal Friend (1752-1819) was a genderless evangelist in the United States. This person refused pronouns and used titles such as “the Friend” or “P.U.F.” Followers respected that choice, even in official documents. The Friend wore black robes that were always described as androgynous.

Modern history

Since the late 20th century, an active conversation about gender diversity emerged. New terms were coined on the Internet and in community networks. Those words tried to better describe the experience of non-binarity. They provided space for people to think outside fixed boxes.

  • Genderqueer: The earliest known use of the term genderqueer is by Riki Anne Wilchins, in the newsletter of Transexual Menace. In 1995, Wilchins used the term in In Your Face. In 1997, Wilchins wrote in their autobiography that they identified as genderqueer. That term refers to an identity outside fixed definitions.
  • Queergendered: In 1998, the site Sphere introduced the words “queergendered” and “polygendered” as umbrella terms. They also mentioned people who are bigender or third sex, or have no gender. The article emphasized that it is sometimes difficult to find a physical transition that fits an ambiguous gender. These terms offered a catch-all term for anyone outside the binary system.

Flag

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Kye Rowan designed the non-binary flag in February 2014. She wanted to create a flag for non-binary people who did not feel recognized by the genderqueer flag. Rowan chose colors with a clear meaning. Each color speaks to a distinct group. Thus, the flag shows the diversity within non-binarity.

  • Yellow: represents being outside the gender binary, as yellow is often used to distinguish something as one’s own.
  • White: is the presence of all colors and represents people who are many or all genders.
  • Purple: represents fluidity and multiplicity of gender experiences and people who are in between traditional pink and blue.
  • Black: is the absence of color and represents agender people.

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Blueberryjello designed an alternative non-binary flag on the LGBTA fandom. She shared the design on Dec. 17, 2020. This flag deviates from the original colors. Each hue has a specific meaning for various non-binary experiences. The design provides an additional option for those who do not recognize existing flags.

  • Yellow: represents people who are not cisgender.
  • White: represents people who identify as multigender.
  • Black: represents people without gender, or agender.
  • Green: represents people who do not want reference to binary.
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Wiki user Kirbirb designed an alternative non-binary flag on Feb. 11, 2021. He wanted to create a design that is more inclusive than the most common flags. This flag appeals to different non-binary experiences. The colors represent specific groups within non-binarity. Kirbirb shared the result on his wiki page.

  • Purple: represents androgynous genders and xenogenders.
  • Peach: represents female-biased genders.
  • White: represents both all genders and genderlessness.
  • Yellow: represents abinary and non-aligned genders.
  • Teal: represents male-biased genders.
non-binary

Cryptocrew designed an alternative non-binary flag at Hayden000’s request on Jan. 15, 2021. Two days later, the design first appeared in an online post. This flag introduces eight colors to represent different non-binary experiences. Each hue focuses on a specific group within non-binarity. Thus, the design offers a more detailed palette than previous flags.

  • Dark blue: represents predominantly male non-binary people.
  • Light blue: represents predominantly masculine non-binary people.
  • Green: represents predominantly genderless or agender non-binary people.
  • White: represents predominantly fluid non-binary people.
  • Purple: represents multigender non-binary people.
  • Orange: represents predominantly xenic or outherine nonbinary people.
  • Pink: represents predominantly feminine non-binary people.
  • Red: represents predominantly female non-binary people.

In the flag symbol, black represents falling outside the binary. The purple crossing the pink and blue emphasizes that non-binary people do not strictly define themselves as male or female. This intersection indicates that gender experiences can be separate from traditional categories. The symbol, along with the colors, forms a visual representation of diversity within non-binarity. Thus, the flag supports both individual recognition and community building.

non-binary

On April 9, 2021, Waterbutcold designed another non-binary flag at FANDOM. This flag uses seven colors to represent diverse gender experiences. Each hue has a specific meaning within the non-binary community. The design expands the palette beyond previously used flags. This creates more space for diversity and recognition.

  • Pink: represents feminine and female genders and female gender presentation. This includes being female-oriented, being connected to femininity or having aspects of a female gender.
  • Black: represents genderlessness, blank genders, zero genders and absence of gender.
  • Gray: represents partial genders.
  • White: represents multigenders, fluid- and fluxgender.
  • Yellow: represents unique and abinary genders.
  • Green: represents neutral genders.
  • Blue: represents masculine and male genders and male gender presentation. This includes masculinity, being connected to masculinity or having aspects of masculine gender.
  • Purple: represents male and female, female and male, and androgynous genders and presentation. This includes any gender connected in some way to both binary genders.

Symbol

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Non-binary symbol usage

The non-binary symbol resembles the male or female symbols. Instead of a cross or arrow, there is an X or a star at the end. The X negates both binary genders and refers to the use of the letter X in non-binary pronouns and titles. The symbol’s position, pointing straight up, differs from the classic positions of the male and female sign.

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The astronomical symbol for comets (ā˜„) is sometimes used as a non-binary symbol. It was chosen because the male and female signs symbolize both planets (Mars and Venus). A comet can occur anywhere in the solar system, reflecting the variety of nonbinary identities.

Read more about: LGBTQ-alphabet, Non binary spectrum (gender)

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