Psychological Complexities of Non-Binary Identities

People increasingly recognize non-binary individuals who do not fit into the traditional male and female categories. The growth in awareness has led to a recent spurt in research into the psychological complexity of non-binary identities. 

What is Non-Binary? 

The majority of people are either men or women. However, not everyone can be neatly classified as either “man” or “woman,” or as “male” or “female.” Some people, for instance,  have a gender that is distinct from either male or female or a gender that combines aspects of being a man and a woman. Some individuals don’t identify as either gender. Also, some people’s gender changes over time. One of the most popular terms used by people whose gender is not male or female to define themselves is “non-binary”. The list also includes terms like genderqueer, agender, bigender, and genderfluid. While not all of these phrases have the same meaning, they all refer to gender experiences that go beyond male or female. 

Rise of Non-Binary Identities 

An ever-increasing population describes their identities as not only non-binary but also belonging to more categories. The 2020 Trevor Project report revealed that 20% of LGBTQ youth identified as non-binary, compared to only 10% in 2017. The trend is partly due to the increasingly recognized and accepted non-binary identities but partially also because of the increased media and pop culture exposure that features non-binary people. 

Role of Social Support 

The life of the non-binary person is to the very core affected by social support. Various studies have been based to develop the positive relationship between the strength of social support and self-esteem as well as the well-being of the non-binary person. A support system can originate from several sources: 

• Family Support: A family is a great place that provides comfort and validation for the non-binary person. Researchers have recorded that a supportive family setup increases the self-esteem of most non-binary individuals.
• Friend Support: Many times, friends can be a source of social support to a non-binary individual. Research shows that those who reported friendly relations reported a higher level of self-esteem and well-being. 
• Online Communities: Online communities can be a space where non-binary people can seek to find others who share similar experiences. Studies have proven that online communities provide good avenues of social support for non-binary people.
• Mental Health Care Providers: Another form of social support may come from mental health care providers who are informed about and sensitive to non-binary identities. Researchers have found that self-esteem and well-being can be higher in non-binary-identified people who have ready access to knowledgeable mental health providers. 

Psychological Analysis of Non-binary Identities 

• Resilience: Non-binary people learn techniques and mechanisms of how to stay alive and thrive in a binary gender system that has been going on for ages. Forming communities and connecting with people who are going through similar experiences can help achieve this.
• Stuck in between: This is an experience of not belonging to a binary gender system among non-binary individuals. This gives an insecure feeling of being different isolated and disconnected from others. They feel confused about their own identity. The discomfort they feel is not just in the outside world, but also within themselves. 
• Anxiety and Depression: The susceptibility of anxiety and depression in the non-binary population is relatively higher as compared to the binary counterparts. It has its origin in the stress that such individuals have to endure from being squeezed into a binary gender system that does not recognize or verify anything outside the binary gender grid. 
• Self-Esteem: What is most significant for non-binary people is having confidence and belief in one’s self. This is because most of them go through a period of discrimination, marginalization, and invalidation, and to win this fight for acceptance, they first have to accept themselves. Once they openly declare along with the support of their families and relatives their own gender identity, there is a good chance of better positive feelings toward one’s image and high self-esteem. 
• Language and Labels: The Use of Words and Idioms as Reflective of Their Lives For an individual who is non-binary, words and labels are the most important. If pronouns and labels are used according to their preference, they feel appreciated and validated; otherwise, it easily bothers them. So, in this respect, evidence has been shown that the level of self-esteem was relatively high and the overall well-being is higher among non-binary individuals if they have pronouns and labels according to their preference for identification. 

The dramatic shift in the meaning associated with these expressions concerning gender represents the most fundamental aspect of non-binary identities. Though researchers are advancing their studies to fully explore all the subtleties of non-binary identities, they must fill this gap with much-needed care for individuals’ well-being and self-esteem. We achieve this by correctly applying proper words and terms for labelling, starting with providing adequate support for social relationships, acceptance, and understanding.