Young people's experiences of non-binary gender

Identity research suggests a staged developmental processes during adolescence, before ultimately arriving at a stable, and long-lasting identity (Wiseman & Davidson, 2011). However, non-binary research shows there is often a sense of change and fluidity (Diamond, 2002). Furthermore, there is a lack of presence of young people in the research area, meaning the findings are often not appropriate for younger people (Beemyn & Rankin, 2011). Therefore, how do young non-binary people navigate their genders? A focus group of 4 non-binary young people, under 16 year olds, were used and their data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 2003). The three main themes identified were: non-binary education, where gender and sex confusion was found, alongside parent and professionals being unaware of non-binary. Gender is fluid showed the non-linear process of being non-binary, the progressions of identity and the implications of this fluidity in a binary world. And lastly the everyday binary highlighted the day-to-day issues the young people faced because of their gender, such as forms of ID, being degendered at school and the effects of misgendering.