A Resilience-Based Approach to Exploring Non-Binary Identities

Background and Purpose:

Non-binary people – those who identify as not exclusively male or female – are an emerging gender minority that are underrepresented in the literature.  The simultaneous invisibility of non-binary identities along with hostility against those who do not conform to binary norms places non-binary people at risk for feeling isolated, unsupported, and confused about their gender identity.  This study explored how non-binary people are resilient including challenges and helpful factors to gender identity development.

Methods:

The approximately hour-long (M=64.60, SD=21.28) in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults (ages 23 to 61) who identified with a gender that was not exclusively male or female.  The sample was homogeneous in race (90% white; 10% black) and gender assigned at birth (80% assigned female; 20% assigned male) but varied greatly in age (M=33.80, SD=12.66) and gender identities (all unique labels or combinations).  Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling through social media, flyers, and community leaders.  Interviews explored life experience including challenges and strengths, the process of gender identity development, and personal goals.  Interviews were transcribed and systematically coded using pre-coding and analytic jotting, line-by-line coding, focused coding, axial coding, and theoretical coding as well as constant comparison throughout the data collection and analysis.  This presentation will discuss a resilience portion from the larger Grounded Theory study on non-binary identity development.

Results:

Data analysis showed that participants found resilience through the process of gender identity development including persevering and overcoming ambiguity, empowering themselves through gender expression, and feeling liberated from gender norms and criticisms.  When rated, a significant difference existed between external and internal comfort with gender identity, t(7)=6.780, p<.001.  External challenges included invisibility, struggling to find a place, barriers to expression, and unhealthy environments.  Internal challenges primarily concerned feeling isolated, overcoming traumatic experiences with others related to gender, and anticipation of negative experiences. 

The underpinning concept to resilience was relationships.  Traumatic interpersonal relations either inhibiting gender identity development or acted as a catalyst to face gender identity.  Supportive relationships in which individuals felt wholly seen and accepted were significant for non-binary gender identity development.  Ways in which friends, family, and colleagues provided this support were identified.  Unique factors related to age and race were discussed.  Participants spoke of their non-binary identity as a benefit – as something additive to their sense of self and the sharing of this created more authentic connections with others.  Through their work in the community, participants described the great responsibility and significance of becoming a role model for other non-binary people of all ages, races, and stages of exploration.

Conclusions and Implications:

Findings identified individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors that were significant to non-binary identity development.  Social workers can benefit from applying this knowledge to create supportive interactions and environments for non-binary people, especially with consideration for age and race.   Further research is necessary to explore the unique experience of non-binary people and to contribute to inclusive and affirming best-practices and policy.