Young people’s experiences of non-binary genders

Abstract

Young people often feel social pressure to conform to binary masculine/feminine roles, which are assumed to be ‘normal’, and may adopt binary gender identities without exploring other gender expressions (Richards, et al., 2016). This can be challenging for young people who do not clearly identify with a binary gender identity to navigate (Vincent, 2020). The aim of this research was to explore how young people make sense of and experience their non-binary gender identities. A focus group was conducted with four 16- to 18-year-old people who identified as non-binary. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), to focus on their lived experiences (Smith et al., 2009). The analysis highlighted the difficulties that ‘everyday’ cisnormative experiences presented for the young people, as well as the young people’s ‘gender journeys’ of (re)negotiating expectations of linear gender development.