What I, as Non-Binary, Want to Share with My Teacher

Do you all know the term “non-binary”?

In Pride Month of 2021, there was a buzz when the singer Hikaru Utada came out as non-binary. Many of you might have encountered the term for the first time through this news.

Non-binary refers to “a sexuality that does not fit within the conventional binary framework of male or female.” However, just hearing this definition might not make it clear for some.

This time, let’s learn about non-binary together, using the experience of a high school student attending an all-girls school as a starting point.

Understanding Gender Binary

The recognition of non-binary gender identities has gradually increased in recent years. However, the concept of “not fitting into either male or female” is still not widely accepted. To better understand this non-binary way of identifying gender, let’s revisit the idea of gender binary.

The term “binary” means “having two components” in English. Concerning gender, it is used to imply “assuming two components of male and female.”

Gender binary is an ideology that asserts “the way of expressing gender is either male or female.” Based on this perspective, we are categorized into the binary framework of male or female in both our everyday lives and legal systems.

When assigned as either male or female, the criteria for this categorization can vary depending on the circumstances.Legally, it often depends on factors such as “gender assigned at birth” or “gender on official documents.” However, it’s not limited to these.

For instance:

• What kind of clothing you are wearing
• Whether or not you wear makeup
• Language usage, gestures, and attitude

These elements, among others, contribute to judgments about whether we are male or female. In daily life, where we don’t always show our identification, these behaviors and appearances might play a more significant role in determining our gender than the “officially assigned gender.”

Many societal systems are built upon the foundation of gender binary. Although there is a recent increase in options beyond “male” and “female” in survey forms, the majority still commonly assume “male” and “female.”

The non-binary way of identifying gender, as discussed in the manga, refers to a gender identity that is not based on “being either male or female.” Many individuals feel that they are neither male nor female, regardless of their assigned gender at birth.

As mentioned earlier, societal systems and people’s understanding often still assume gender binary. This can lead to cases where individuals who identify as “neither male nor female” are mistakenly categorized and experience harm as a result.

Differences Between Non-Binary, Transgender, and X-Gender

While reading about non-binary, some of you might wonder, “What is the difference between transgender, X-gender, and non-binary?”

In the broad sense, non-binary can be considered a form of transgender, as both involve living or trying to live in a way that differs from the gender assigned at birth.

However, in the narrow sense, transgender usually follows the idea of the gender binary. For instance, a transgender man is someone assigned female at birth but lives or aims to live as a man. Similarly, a transgender woman is someone assigned male at birth but lives or aims to live as a woman. 

They firmly identify as either male or female, unlike non-binary individuals who identify as neither.

Recently, the concept of X-gender has started to gain some recognition. On Palettalk, we’ve been sharing manga related to X-gender, but it’s important to note that X-gender is a term only in the Japanese language. While it shares some similarities with non-binary, it doesn’t have the exact same meaning.

X-gender can be divided into categories such as:

• Both-gender (feeling both male and female)
• Neutral-gender (feeling in the middle of male and female)
• Genderless (feeling no gender)
• Undefined-gender (gender identity not determined)

X-gender and non-binary share a commonality in the sense that they don’t fit into the traditional male-female framework. However, X-gender categories like both-gender and neutral-gender are often interpreted within the male-female framework, making them different from non-binary.

You can say that non-binary emphasizes “not following the idea of the gender binary.”

However, it’s crucial to understand that the interpretation of non-binary can vary among individuals, same as X-gender. Some non-binary individuals may feel both male and female or identify as being in between. Additionally, people’s experiences with their bodies and the need for medical intervention can differ.

Regardless of one’s way of identifying gender, it is important not to make assumptions about others based on their gender identity.

What’s essential is to respect others and not to assume anything without asking, regardless of their sexuality.

Visualizing Gender Diversity Through Understanding

Non-binary, considered a relatively new gender identity, has not suddenly appeared in the world. People with a non-binary gender identity have existed for a long time, but the term has become more widely known recently, bringing visibility to their existence.

When new names for sexualities and gender identities appear, questions may be asked, such as, “Doesn’t adding categories limit people’s ways of expressing their gender?” or “Is there meaning in giving detailed names to each sexuality and gender identity?”

However, our current society often takes for granted the binary concept of gender and heterosexuality, forming the basis for systems and society. In such an environment, individuals who do not fit in this traditionally known sexuality often become invisible and treated as if they don’t exist.

In a society where only certain sexualities have been accepted, many individuals suffer silently thinking, “I am different from what is considered normal.” “What am I?” and questioning their own existence. Discovering a name that fits with their gender identity can bring relief, as can meeting others who share similar identities. Conversely, some individuals find clarity about their gender identity by realizing subtle differences from others.

These experiences are not to be dismissed as ”meaningless.” Regardless of one’s gender identity, it’s crucial to make the existence of each person visible and avoid suppressing it. This involves recognizing and understanding the names associated with various gender identities.

The key lies not in simply “adding or finding names” but in:

• Using knowledge as a means to analyze one’s own gender identity.
• Avoiding to press one’s norms onto others.
• Working towards reducing the number of people who are treated as “non-existent” in society.

Sexuality has always been diverse, but the visibility of this diversity is a recent phenomenon. Many people still face difficulties due to societal norms surrounding sexuality.

For those with gender identities based on the binary system, understanding the sense of being non-binary might be challenging. However, not understanding doesn’t mean you can’t still show respect. Also, not understanding doesn’t mean it is unnecessary to learn.

By increasing awareness about non-binary identities, it becomes essential to reevaluate societal norms and update systems to ensure that no one’s existence is overlooked or dismissed as non-existent.