Understanding non-binary gender identities
The lack of awareness on matters of gender identity has been widely debated. But, attempts are being made to encourage inclusivity, early on. While teachers in Australia are instructed to avoid saying ‘boys and girls’ in classrooms, the Madras High Court recently stated that Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meetings should mandatorily sensitise parents on issues of LGBTQIA+ and gender nonconforming students, to ensure supportive families. While the order has been welcomed, many rue a lack of awareness about such sensitive subjects.
Take for instance, Mohd Asad. This apparel designer has had quite a journey navigating through the gender spectrum, for there was a lot of dysphoria and confusion. Born biologically a male, Asad now identifies as nonbinary, after having gone through a lot of perplexity and reading up on non-binary identities — individuals who often prefer using ‘they’ or ‘them’ as pronouns. And, Asad finally managed to find a place for them outside of the binary box.
“I realised I could identify as neither a man nor a woman, and still be somebody. I felt a sense of validation when I interacted with so many non-binary people in an online conference,” they say.
R Balaji, a motivational and TedX speaker, also understood the lack of awareness about non-binary identities, when they wanted to try a gown from the female section, in the men’s trial room, but were denied by the showroom staff: “I was told
I wasn’t allowed to take a gown to the male trial room or enter the female one.
R BALAJI, TedX speaker
Interacting with non-binary people felt like a liberating, safe haven. MOHD ASAD, Apparel designer
you can’t bring female clothing items in the male trial room, and also told to not enter the female one.” When their friend confirmed Balaji is non-binary, the staff reverted saying, “There are no trial rooms for homosexuals.” However, the store owner later apologised, gifted the gown to Balaji and made sure to educate staff about sensitive issues like gender identities.
Reflecting on Balaji’s story, Reyansh Naarang, a law student who also identifies as non-binary, says, “There are many more types of genders, apart from male and female. It’s not difficult to learn about and integrate other identities.”
The gender spectrum we grew up with was formed with a ‘binary lens’. REYANSH NAARANG, Law student