Whats the difference between non binary and gender fluid

Q: What is gender fluid means?

Gender fluidity refers to change over time in a persons gender expression or gender identity, or both. That change might be in expression, but not identity, or in identity, but not expression. Or both expression and identity might change together.

Table of Contents Show

What is gender?
What does it mean to be nonbinary?
What is genderqueer?
Creating a more inclusive space
Are “non-binary,” “genderqueer,” and “gender-nonconforming” all the same?
What does “non-binary” mean?
What does “genderqueer” mean?
What does “gender non-conforming” mean?
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What is the difference between non binary and Genderfluid?
What is the difference between gender fluid and binary?
What is gender fluid means?

Understanding different identities can be difficult, but it's also incredibly important. And for the LGBTQIA+ community, understanding and respecting identity is especially important.

While many folks are familiar with terms like gay, lesbian, and transgender, there are a few other LGBTQIA+ terms that some people don't understand or are aware of. Nonbinary and genderqueer are two of them. In this blog, we're going to discuss what they are and the differences between the two.

What is gender?

A person's gender has been traditionally used to describe the norms and roles of males and females. This is what we call the gender binary, and it operates under the assumption that there are only two genders: male or female. With this gender binary there is also an established definition of what is considered masculine and feminine. For example, many people associate blue with boys and pink with girls.

If you are cisgender, this means you identify with the gender you were assigned to at birth. However, it's important to know gender is a construct, and many people do not identify as male or female. Gender is something people define and chose to identify on their own terms, and isn't dictated by how a person looks. For many folks, their gender identity exists outside the gender binary.

It's also important to remember that gender is not interchangeable with sexual orientation. They are two different things. Gender is how an individual identifies themselves, and sexual orientation indicates what gender(s) they are attracted to.

What does it mean to be nonbinary?

Some people who do not identify as solely male or female consider themselves nonbinary. This means their gender identity exists outside the binary of being only male or female. For some nonbinary people, that may mean being a bit of both genders in whatever way. Some people don't identify with either gender. It's important to understand that every nonbinary person has a different definition of what that means to them.

What is genderqueer?

The term genderqueer is similar to nonbinary, but has a slightly different meaning. The dictionary defines genderqueer as the following: "denoting or relating to a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders."

Nonbinary and genderqueer are often used interchangeably by some, but not everyone considers them the same thing. Others consider the term genderqueer as an umbrella term to cover an identity that isn't cisgender. It's important to understand that gender identity is relative to each individual and how they identify.

Additionally, some people consider the term genderqueer to be a politically charged identity. "To me, 'genderqueer' represents a queering of gender, so to speak. It's a deliberate playing with gender in a very political sense, and being provocative around gender norms to highlight the gender stereotypes of our culture," said Laura A. Jacobs, an LGBTQ+ psychotherapist in an interview with VICE.

Creating a more inclusive space

Learning about identity can be a challenge, but by educating ourselves we can become better allies and build a more inclusive community. This includes understanding different gender identities, and extends to knowing the difference between gender and sexual orientation -- and also to using pronouns correctly. Change doesn't happen overnight, but through small steps.

Photo by Zackary Drucker, via the Gender Spectrum Collection.

As language evolves and our understanding of gender continues to expand, people are identifying with an ever-growing and increasingly fluid group of labels. “Genderqueer,” “gender non-conforming,” “non-binary”––all of these words refer to people who identify outside of the male-female gender binary. But what do all of these terms mean, and what is the difference between them?

Are “non-binary,” “genderqueer,” and “gender-nonconforming” all the same?

“These are all terms that have come out of personal experience,” said Lou Himes, a non-binary Psy-D and Liscenced Clinical psychologist based in New York City. That means there are no concrete definitions to go by. Plus, these terms are relatively new to academia, medicine, and mainstream discourse. The beauty of that: Each person can interpret their differences for themselves and identify with the one that resonates most with them.

There are many people who identify with all of these terms and use them interchangeably. Still, many people primarily or solely identify with only one of these terms. Interpretations about the specific differences between them vary. But one thing always remains true: If you are going to refer to someone’s identity, you should always ask what label they prefer, and stick to that one.

What does “non-binary” mean?

The dictionary defines “non-binary” as something that is “not consisting of, indicating, or involving two.” While the term most commonly refers to someone’s gender identity, it can also be applied to many other things. Non-binary or gender-neutral clothing, for instance, is a growing industry appreciated by many, including cisgender folks.

But the term “non-binary” is most commonly used to describe someone’s gender identity when they do not identify within traditional categories of male or female. “The term ‘non-binary’ directly references the gender binary, or the idea that there are only two categories of gender experience,” said Himes. “But non-binary individuals do not operate within that socially constructed reality.”

“I identify as non-binary because I do not identify with either gender,” said Rui, a 19-year-old non-binary college student in New Jersey.

What does “genderqueer” mean?

According to a history of the term published in them., “genderqueer” originated in activist circles in the 1990s and grew in commonality over the last three or so decades.

“To me, ‘genderqueer’ represents a queering of gender, so to speak,” said Laura A. Jacobs, a psychotherapist who specializes in trans and gender non-binary issues, LGBTQ issues, and other forms of gender and sexual diversity. “It’s a deliberate playing with gender in a very political sense, and being provocative around gender norms to highlight the gender stereotypes of our culture. It is also how I identify.”

Cyrus Cohen, who lives in New York City and identifies as non-binary, considers their identity to be a form of genderqueerness. “I define ‘genderqueer’ as an umbrella term that just means ‘not cisgender,'” they said.

But Rui sees it differently: “I don’t use the term ‘genderqueer’ because, to me, that implies more of an oscillation between genders.”

What does “gender non-conforming” mean?

Broadly, “gender non-conforming” defines people who have a gender expression that does not conform to traditional gender norms. Similar to both “non-binary” and “genderqueer,” “gender non-conforming” is also often used as an umbrella term—although it is sometimes also used to refer to people who identify as cis-gender but who dress or behave in ways that defy gender stereotypes.

“The term says, ‘I am expected to be in this box, but I am not going to be in the box because I’m not going to conform to the expectations that are set for me,’” Himes said.

Others interpret it with added nuance. “In contrast [to ‘genderqueer’], I conceptualize being gender non-conforming as more rooted in how you’re perceived by others,” Cohen added, “and I tend to use that word mostly in cis spaces, as it invites less questions and is easier for people to understand.”

“Non-binary,” “genderqueer,” and “gender non-conforming” are just three of many words with which people outside of the gender binary identify. Others include “third-gender,” “genderfluid,” “two-spirit,” “pangender,” and “agender”—each with their own inflections of meaning.

Some last names have been excluded from this article for privacy.

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What is the difference between non binary and Genderfluid?

A genderfluid person does not have a fixed gender. Instead, their gender may shift and change. Genderfluid is a type of nonbinary gender identity. This means it exists outside of the gender binary, which refers to the idea of gender as being either a man or a woman only.

What is the difference between gender fluid and binary?

Gender binary: The social system that sees only two genders and that requires everyone to be raised as a man or a woman, depending on the gender assigned to them at birth. Gender fluid people: Individuals whose gender varies over time.

What is gender fluid means?

Gender fluidity refers to change over time in a person's gender expression or gender identity, or both. That change might be in expression, but not identity, or in identity, but not expression. Or both expression and identity might change together.