Binaries Separate Non-Binary People

Sex and gender are different. Medical News Today states “In general terms, “sex” refers to the biological differences between males and females, such as the genitalia and genetic differences. “Gender” is more difficult to define, but it can refer to the role of a male or female in society, known as a gender role, or an individual’s concept of themselves, or gender identity.” When people describe gender by anatomy they eliminate all transgender and non binary people from being able to express themselves as they see fit.  Transgender youth are the most at risk for suicides of any population in the country because the social stress of discovering yourself and purpose through artificial binaries are toxic to the development of human beings.  You also eliminate all intersex people who were born with a combination both male and female anatomy. If these people are unable to express themselves through gender, they are unable to define their human experience by anything besides “other” because of how crucial gender has been made by society is in defining ourselves.  Because of this social stigma and the man made necessity to define one’s self and one’s human experience through gender, many doctors perform surgeries on intersex individuals that can be dangerous and are unnecessary just because of societal stigma. At this point gender binaries are no longer only a threat to people’s human experience, self discovery, rights, equality, and mental health, but a threat to the human body.