Gender Binary
(compound noun)
The pervasive social system, largely a product of colonialism, that tells us there can only be presumably-cisgender men and women. It also says that there can be no alternatives in terms of gender or expression. The binary exists in terms of the social systems that enforce it, but does not actually exist in the real experience of gender. Gender is much much more than a binary. The binary is an assumption that conceals a beautiful dynamic experience of gender and life.
e.g. Jaiivon blamed the gender binary for making him think he was a man for most of his life. He was thrilled when he learned the term “non-binary”.
Return to the Index.
Back to the Introductory Terms Guided Tour.
English