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In contemporary usage, nonbinary serves as both a specific gender identity and an umbrella term encompassing various gender identities beyond the traditional man/woman binary. Although the term has gained recent prominence in English-speaking trans communities, nonbinary genders have existed across cultures throughout history. The 8th edition of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care now includes a dedicated chapter on nonbinary individuals. Research estimates suggest that nonbinary people constitute a significant portion of the trans community, ranging from 25% to over 50%.
Despite increasing awareness, nonbinary genders still face societal resistance, leading to identity invalidation. Misgendering, the misclassification of one’s gender, is a prominent form of invalidation that can negatively impact mental health. Such experiences may trigger dysphoria, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. The gender minority stress model explains how stress and discrimination can internalize, resulting in adverse mental health outcomes for trans individuals.
Existing research often overlooks nonbinary-specific experiences, making it challenging to understand their unique challenges. Binary normativity, which asserts that only two genders exist, contributes to the erasure of nonbinary identities. Nonbinary In this study involving a community-based sample of nonbinary people in Canada, the majority experienced daily misgendering, leading to significant distress. may face increased misgendering due to the public’s limited understanding of their identities. Balancing safety and authenticity, nonbinary In this study involving a community-based sample of nonbinary people in Canada, the majority experienced daily misgendering, leading to significant distress. must make difficult choices regarding the disclosure or concealment of their gender identity.
Unlike binary-aligned trans individuals, nonbinary people may struggle to be correctly recognized, leading to strategic compromises in their gender expression. The lack of public recognition poses challenges for nonbinary individuals in navigating disclosure, visibility, passing, and concealment. Understanding the intra-categorical complexity and experiences among nonbinary people is crucial, emphasizing the need for research on the relationship between misgendering and mental health specific to this population. This study aims to address these gaps by exploring factors associated with the frequency of misgendering among nonbinary individuals and its impact on mental well-being.
In this study involving a community-based sample of nonbinary people in Canada, the majority experienced daily misgendering, leading to significant distress. The frequency of misgendering was higher among those with visible disabilities, younger participants, and those assigned female at birth or racially marginalized assigned male at birth. However, bivariate analyses lacked adjustments for potential confounding variables, such as age differences between assigned female at birth and assigned male at birth participants. While unadjusted regression models linked misgendering to anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being, adjusted models showed only a small but statistically significant effect on anxiety, with no significant impact on depression or psychological well-being.
Despite the generally distressing nature of misgendering reported by the sample, the study found unexpectedly high rates of depression overall, suggesting that misgendering may not strongly predict variability in depression symptoms. Social support and community belongingness were considered as potential mitigating factors, emphasizing the need for further exploration in future research.
Comparisons with existing literature confirmed previous research indicating a higher frequency of misgendering and non-affirmation among nonbinary In this study involving a community-based sample of nonbinary people in Canada, the majority experienced daily misgendering, leading to significant distress. compared to trans men or trans women. The study also aligned with prior findings on the positive mental health impacts of chosen names and pronoun usage, as well as the negative effects of misgendering and non-affirmation for trans and nonbinary individuals.
The research shed light on the role of concealment and the complexity of outness for nonbinary individuals, revealing that those altering their gender expression based on context experienced more frequent misgendering. The study suggested a potential “double bind” for nonbinary individuals who, while seeking affirmation, may also face negative comments or exhaustion from educating others about their gender identity.
Identity concealment and strategic gender expression were highlighted as potential coping strategies that might simultaneously protect against misgendering and increase anxiety. The study proposed future research into how nonbinary individuals negotiate identity disclosure and strategic gender expression, considering the potential mediation or moderation of the relationship between misgendering and mental health outcomes.
The study acknowledged limitations such as sample size, racial homogeneity, and the broad definition of misgendering. The findings emphasized the need for healthcare providers and policymakers to recognize misgendering as a social determinant of health for nonbinary individuals, with potential consequences on their mental health and willingness to seek healthcare services.
Overall, this study contributes valuable insights into the pervasive nature of misgendering among nonbinary individuals and its potential impact on mental health, offering directions for future research and implications for healthcare providers and policymakers.
Source:
Kai Jacobsen, Charlie E. Davis, Drew Burchell, Leo Rutherford, Nathan Lachowsky, Greta Bauer & Ayden Scheim (2023) Misgendering and the health and wellbeing of nonbinary people in Canada, International Journal of Transgender Health, DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2023.2278064