Non-Binary Identity Development: A Retrospective Exploration of Family Support

Abstract

There is growing awareness of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals; people whose gender identity and expression are different from what is typically expected, including non-binary gender identity. Despite this increased attention, trans and non-binary youth are most at risk for negative outcomes, such as psychological distress and suicidal ideation. This, coupled with the fact that the limited studies of family acceptance of trans youth are focused primarily on binary trans youth, illustrates the need for increased understanding of family acceptance of non-binary identity, specifically. Accordingly, this phenomenology depicts the lived experience of family support for a non-binary identity. In this retrospective analysis, 336 self-identifying non-binary participants responded to open-ended questions about family support of their gender identity. Three categories of themes emerged across participant responses: 1) gendered messages, 2) explicit support, and 3) arrested development. These findings highlight the importance of increasing visibility and understanding of non-binary identity in both the family and the scholarly literature. Implications for parents, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are discussed.