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non-binary (adj.) | non-binary, the

The term non-binary describes a wide range of different ways of experiencing one's gender.

Many non-binary individuals locate their gender identity between male and female, meaning they are neither fully female nor fully male, or neither always female nor always male. Some have a non-binary identity that moves or shifts fluidly between male and female. Still others have a non-binary gender that is completely independent of the concepts of "man" and "woman." This can also include having no gender or a neutral gender identity. All of these individuals have in common that their gender does not follow the binary gender order.

People who fit the descriptions above do not necessarily describe themselves as "non-binary," depending on how they see themselves. Gender concepts that do not follow the binary male-female order also vary considerably culturally and geographically and cannot be subsumed under the Western-influenced label of "non-binary."

Some individuals have multiple affiliations with different genders or gender identities. For example, some intersex people also identify as nonbinary. Non-binary genders are also sometimes included under the umbrella term trans* because both non-binary people and trans people have a gender that does not match their sex assigned at birth.

Just like people with binary gender identities, non-binary people can have any sociosexual orientation, gender expression, or appearance. A desire for physical changes or ambiguous gender expression may or may not be present.


Sources (in German)

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