The future is non-binary, inclusive and intersectional.
Non-binary people have been around in all societies and cultures throughout human history. Yet the concept of International Non-Binary people still confuses many as most people in the society have believed in a binary structure of gender.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
NON-BINARY
Non-binary is an umbrella term to describe people who identify with a gender outside of the gender binary, and can be categorised under the trans umbrella term, although not all non-binary people identify as trans.
The gender binary is the assumption that all people are one of two genders, man or woman. People who identify as a man or a woman identify as a binary gender, since they identify with a gender within the system of the gender binary.
A non-binary person simply identifies with a gender that is not man or woman, or an extension an/or divergence of those identities.
COMMON PITFALL RELATED TO NON_BINARY PEOPLE
If you are goal is to learn and unlearn our own understandings of gender and moving beyond essentialist and binary notions of gender in order to better serve and engage non-binary & gender-diverse people, there are two common pitfalls you need to be aware of :
Pitfall #1 Equating non-binary people with femininity
Including non-binary people in feminine coded spaces will only maintain the ingrained misconception that all non-binary people identify with aspects of femininity. in Reality, Non-binary people have a variety of identities. They can feel masculine, feminine, neither, both, fluid.
Including non-binary people in feminine coded spaces may work for some individuals, but leaves out many more.
Pitfall #2 Focusing only on non-binary people and women leaves out trans men
Trans-men are often experience years of discrimination and disadvantages due to society perceiving them as female, but once they come out as male, they can no longer access the career support they need. While some trans men may eventually experience aspects of male privilege, many others don’t “pass” as male and are often still effectively treated as women in public settings.
EASY WAY TO BE A BETTER ALLY FOR NON-BINARY FOLKS
#1. Change our language
Yes, the solution is as simple as changing our binary language like “hey guys” or “ladies and gentlemen” and instead go for “hey everyone” or “hi all”.
Ensure the language you use isn’t gendered — instead of “Hey Ladies”, how about try fun alternatives like “Everyone”, “Folx”, or “Y’all”.
#2. Don’t make an assumptions about people’s gender
Do not assume someone’s gender identity based on what you perceive their expression to be. truly, you can’t tell if someone I non-binary simply by looking at them, just like how you can’t tell if someone is transgender just by how they look.
#3. Use inclusive language, If not sure what pronouns someone uses, ask.
Different non-binary people may use different pronouns. Hence this is one of the most critical aspects of being a better ally and being respectful of a non-binary person, as the name you may have been using may not reflect their gender identity.
Also Read :
Steering Away From Misconceptions About Feminism
