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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think “non-binary” is becoming a fashion statement for some people rather than a true identity?

472 replies

ByPoliteExpert · 25/06/2025 12:18

Not saying it’s not real but the aestheticisation of it is creeping in.

OP posts:
eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 25/06/2025 15:51

MyMilchick · 25/06/2025 15:27

Plus there's Pansexual as well

Pansexual... like really into Le Creuset?

ghostyslovesheets · 25/06/2025 15:54

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 25/06/2025 15:51

Pansexual... like really into Le Creuset?

I’m a wizard with a wok - you should try my stir-fry

ghostyslovesheets · 25/06/2025 15:55

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 25/06/2025 15:45

My brother was a dog for a bit....

I spent the years between 3-5 pretending to be a pony

ArabellaScott · 25/06/2025 15:56

ByPoliteExpert · 25/06/2025 14:19

I mean the deep, personal sense someone has about whether they feel like a man, a woman, both, neither or something else entirely - regardless of how they look or behave outwardly. It’s not always something people can put into perfect words. For some, their gender identify lines up easily with their sex at birth. For others, it doesn’t and they may describe themselves as non-binary, trans, or use another term that better fits how they feel at their core. It’s less about stereotypes and hobbies and more about how someone recognises and names that internal sense of self.

What does 'feeling like a woman' feel like?

HaymitchA · 25/06/2025 15:57

Alconleigh · 25/06/2025 13:27

You’re describing what I would call personality, or likes and dislikes, there. So no, I don’t think of being “girly” as an identity. And agree with those who’ve pointed out we are all non binary, in the sense of not conforming to every societally created gender stereotype. I don’t really understand the whole “identity” thing anyway. I don’t think it can be a coincidence that it has risen in line with social media use and people thinking that it is important how they define themselves to the world. Not realising that most people don’t care, and that we are all made up of many different facets.

But you don't have to confirm to every single socially created stereotype to fall into the "binary" category. Just as you can be a girly girl without falling into every single girl stereotype, or a laddish lad without falling into every single lad stereotype. These are rough descriptors, they're not necessary conditions.

I think that being a tomboy is an identity. It isn't a personality, because personality types transcend gender presentation.

HaymitchA · 25/06/2025 16:00

Annoyedone · 25/06/2025 12:37

My niece once identified as a cat.

No, she didn't. Your niece probably played a game in which she pretended to be a cat.

CantStopMoving · 25/06/2025 16:02

HaymitchA · 25/06/2025 15:57

But you don't have to confirm to every single socially created stereotype to fall into the "binary" category. Just as you can be a girly girl without falling into every single girl stereotype, or a laddish lad without falling into every single lad stereotype. These are rough descriptors, they're not necessary conditions.

I think that being a tomboy is an identity. It isn't a personality, because personality types transcend gender presentation.

how do you know you have reached the point where you have transcended a binary category into the non-binary?

MyMilchick · 25/06/2025 16:05

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 25/06/2025 15:51

Pansexual... like really into Le Creuset?

😂

Annoyedone · 25/06/2025 16:06

HaymitchA · 25/06/2025 16:00

No, she didn't. Your niece probably played a game in which she pretended to be a cat.

Are you saying just cos she said she wasn’t car she really wasn’t? What if I’d said my neice identified as non binary? Would you still say she was playing a game of pretend? What is the difference?

Profhilodisaster · 25/06/2025 16:13

@ArabellaScott Exactly my question, as a pp said, how do I know if my feeling like a woman is , in fact , what feeling like a man feels like, what if my feeling like a woman is nothing like what a woman should feel like.

It's all utter rubbish and makes my brain hurt.

ArabellaScott · 25/06/2025 16:19

Profhilodisaster · 25/06/2025 16:13

@ArabellaScott Exactly my question, as a pp said, how do I know if my feeling like a woman is , in fact , what feeling like a man feels like, what if my feeling like a woman is nothing like what a woman should feel like.

It's all utter rubbish and makes my brain hurt.

Edited

I'm hoping OP will expand, as it's one of those questions that has been asked many times and has yet to be answered coherently, in my experience.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/06/2025 16:23

ByPoliteExpert · 25/06/2025 14:16

You’re of course entitled to think the concept of gender identity isn’t meaningful but it’s also okay that others experience it differently. My post wasn’t about policing who can or can’t identify as non-binary. It was about reflecting on the visible cultural shifts around the label, especially when identity starts to feel more like an aesthetic or trend.

I agree we can’t know what others feel internally but we can notice how certain expressions get amplified, commodified or adopted in ways that affect public perception. That doesn’t invalidate sincere experiences.

But I still don't really get your point, because surely the whole thing is just a trend? Nobody identified as non-binary a few years ago!

CantStopMoving · 25/06/2025 16:27

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/06/2025 16:23

But I still don't really get your point, because surely the whole thing is just a trend? Nobody identified as non-binary a few years ago!

And also why do you not find non- binary identities outside of relatively well off countries?

nauticant · 25/06/2025 16:30

At this point that kind of question tends to trigger cultural appropriation from indigenous cultures and you get references to "two spirit" and similar stuff.

TheKeatingFive · 25/06/2025 16:37

The non-binary thing wrecks my head completely.

Surely everyone is non binary as not one person on this planet completely aligns with gender stereotypes.

Shekoni · 25/06/2025 16:40

TheKeatingFive · 25/06/2025 16:37

The non-binary thing wrecks my head completely.

Surely everyone is non binary as not one person on this planet completely aligns with gender stereotypes.

Ah, but apparently it only counts if you 'feel' non-binary. Just not being aligned with gender stereotypes isn't enough it seems.

nauticant · 25/06/2025 16:44

There is one single qualification for someone to be non-binary. And that's for them to have an internal sense that they're non-binary (or to assert that that's the case to others). So you can have the bloke-iest bloke in blokesville who presents as a bloke and does blokey things and they can be non-binary if that's how they views themself.

That's it. It would be OK if it remained there but there are people about who want these unusual identities to be the basis for reordering society, because of the power over others it will give them.

TheKeatingFive · 25/06/2025 16:44

Shekoni · 25/06/2025 16:40

Ah, but apparently it only counts if you 'feel' non-binary. Just not being aligned with gender stereotypes isn't enough it seems.

And what would that mean?

🫠🫠🫠

Shekoni · 25/06/2025 16:45

TheKeatingFive · 25/06/2025 16:44

And what would that mean?

🫠🫠🫠

Beats me. I've read every one of the OPs posts and I'm still none the wiser about any of it.

Soontobe60 · 25/06/2025 16:52

ByPoliteExpert · 25/06/2025 12:26

No - androgyny is a look. Non-binary is meant to be a gender identity. My post is about how, for some, the lines seem to be getting blurred in a way that feels more performative than genuine.

Genuine?

Tontostitis · 25/06/2025 16:57

Annoyedone · 25/06/2025 13:15

So someone non binary is just someone who does not conform to these gender norms in some way. So99.9% of people are non binary then?

I'm definitely non binary by this definition and so are all the smart funny successful women I know. My husband does the ironing loves clothes and gossiping so I will let him know he is too.

FiveBarGate · 25/06/2025 16:58

The sad thing is that if non binary didn't come with the label, name changes and sometimes surgery, I'd be right behind it (as would most of us I'm sure).

Push away the stereotypes of girl/woman and I applaud you.

I feel it can't be a coincidence that this exploded at a time young women seemed to morph into looking the same, and highly glamorous.

I see school prom photos and think I could never have looked like that. I can't do the professional makeup, false eyelashes, hair extensions etc. And I'm not criticising that, some look incredible but I just couldn't do it.

I wonder if it's a lot of 'I'm not that so must be something else'. In the 90s we were in long shirts, tank tops and baggy jeans. It was perhaps simpler to be a girl if you view it at surface level only.

But age and experience teaches us none of those things are what define us as a sex class.

It's easy to see how it appeals to ASD girls but I feel sad they feel they need to change into something else rather than accept they are just as female regardless of presentation.

Neemie · 25/06/2025 17:03

Helleofabore · 25/06/2025 15:40

Yes. Male people with any transgender identity get to choose the provisions they feel are for them. So a male person who is NB might choose female single sex toilets / changing rooms etc.

(note: in the UK anything stated to be for female people eg toilets SHOULD be single sex , but we have seen policies such as above for years and they are active in other parts of the world)

Edited

Nothing I said was about transwomen using women’s toilets.

If you want to bring lever in single sex spaces then it is better to use the changing room argument than toilets. You’ll win over more people.

BundleBoogie · 25/06/2025 17:03

I find it interesting that so many male ‘non binaries’ feel that their identity entitles them to use women’s spaces. I’ve heard numerous reports of them invading women’s exercise classes, women’s toilets and even standing in the women’s queue for a pat down at a nightclub (apparently he was told firmly to stop being ridiculous and move to them men’s queue).

Why would that be I wonder?

TY78910 · 25/06/2025 17:03

MeDepresso · 25/06/2025 15:04

I can only speak about my DC and this shouldn't be considered anything other than that.

I think it's relevant that my DC was diagnosed ASD age 3.

Age 13ish they we're in a really bad depression, CAMHS etc and started on antidepressants. When they started coming out of the worst of the depressive fog, they announced (at school) they were trans. School immediately affirmed, names pronouns and told us after the fact. DC had an EHCP and various professionals involved. The OT was pushing for Tavistock referrals, the school made noises about reporting us to SS as "safeguarding" as we weren't affirming. We did buy some skirts and leggings but said it was too fast and too soon to be changing names and pronouns.

DCs psychiatrist noted the identity stuff occurred at a point in their medication that was known to be a peak with suicide attempts. The psychiatrist explained how the medication can make some feel invincible and overwhelmed with feelings they haven't experienced before.

We didn't make a huge deal about anything just restated to DC it wasn't something to decide upon until they were at least 18. They didn't want the Tavistock referral as they hate talking about themselves. I'm aware that appears contrary when they've made statements about their gender identity, but I'll let MN feel victorious on that one 😅

Anyway DC went to a different setting for post-16. Kept in touch with their school friends (all autistic).
Around 17 DC told college and us they had been identifying as NB to their friends and told us the new name. We decided to affirm and we tick along nicely now.

DC is a gentle soul and really isn't an attention-seeking narcissist. They're very introverted and live very quietly.

We're at peace with it all so I'm unfazed by the vitriol on threads like these.

I’m glad that everything is harmonious now. Can I ask a personal question? (Promise, no judgement from me). Do you feel like DC identifies as non-binary because it’s ’easier to accept’ than trans? Do you think they’ll still be looking towards transitioning later on?

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