Title

“Picking My Battles ”: Examining the Experiences of Gender Non-binary Identities within the U.s.

Author

Mika Raylen Richards, Illinois State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

3-29-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

First Advisor

John Baldwin

Abstract

As there is limited research on non-binary individuals, researching the non-binary experience was essential to normalizing their existence. The qualitative research focuses on 12 non-binary individuals who were at different stages of being out. A thematic analysis helped in understanding multifaceted responses from the participants. The data showed that non-binary individuals experience invalidation each day. Heteronormative societies and individuals tend to only see a binary within gender identity and shape their language around it, whether it be from their refusal of learning or a lack of knowledge of the problem. This failure to acknowledge non-binary individuals influenced many of their androgynous appearances, and their communicative patterns with cisgender and transgender individuals.

Comments

Imported from ProQuest Richards_ilstu_0092N_11443.pdf

Recommended Citation

Richards, Mika Raylen, "“Picking My Battles ”: Examining the Experiences of Gender Non-binary Identities within the U.s." (2019). Theses and Dissertations. 1086.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/1086

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2019.Richards.M

Page Count

103