GenderQueer and the Power of Representation: Why is representation integral for the Nonbinay Community

By Red Centeno
4 May 2022

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    Based on a study in 2017, almost 1 million adults (390 out of every 100,000)  in the United States are transgender. Since then, that ratio has only increased, with no sign of stopping any time soon. (Meerwijk) A similar study made in the same year collected data from 2006 to 2016 about the nonbinary community, a branch of the trans community that represents those that do not align themselves with the male or female gender. The nonbinary community makes up one-third of the trans population in the United States. (Matsuno)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Meta-Regression Showing the Proportion of Transgender Adults Against Survey Year- 
Image provided by the American Journal of Public Health (Meerwijk)

   Due to an unfortunate history, transgender and nonbinary people have been disproportionally affected by discrimination and violence, leading to minority stress and negative health effects, (Athena) something many trans folk already suffer from due to dysphoria and stress caused ​​by a heavily gendered society. In the nonbinary study from 2017, it is stated that nonbinary folks are at a higher risk of suicide, experience more psychological distress, and experience higher levels of depression and anxiety; these individuals face several challenges in a society that is heavily structured around gendered identities. (Matsuno) Although these are very distressing facts, there is still hope. In Athena’s article, poor mental and physical health in the trans community has been proven to be combatted by Transgender Comunity Connection (TCC). TCC can be defined as (i) community connectedness (a sense of belonging) to the trans community and/or (ii) behavioral participation in the trans community (observable interaction with other trans people, in person, online, or through media). (Athena)
   
Section two of TCC in specific interactions through media are especially integral and will be discussed in the context of GenderQueer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe. Media is the most easily accessible method to receive TCC. In this graphic novel, ey recall their journey through gender and sexuality, expressing the easiness that came with coming out as bisexual, the struggles of finding peace within their gender, and eventually coming out as nonbinary and changing eir pronouns to e, em, eirs. Maia’s journey has em experiencing TCC emselves, finding not only comfort and solidarity with queer icons such as David Bowie, but also discovering the word transgender and folks who identify as such in newspapers and zines, and passionately reading queer novels they found at eir local San Fransisco library (all of which fits into behavioral participation). E also found comfort in eir sister, who was also queer and wholly supported her sibling’s transition every step of the way. Not only that, but e had a nonbinary professor, met eir sister’s boyfriend who was also trans, and Jaina Bee, who also uses e, em, eir pronouns (these connections fit into community connectedness). 

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But, not only is observing TCC being experienced beneficial, readers of GenderQueer are experiencing TCC by consuming the material itself. Nonbinary, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals may relate to Maia’s own TCC, but also eir struggle throughout eir development and self-discovery. These individuals are receiving their own behavioral participation by reading this piece of literature. I received GenderQueer as a gift from my mother last year, while I was in the process of transitioning myself. Reading Maia’s account of eir own journey provided me comfort in knowing that I was doing the right thing, as I had very similar experiences and feelings when it came to my own gender. Maia’s work was not the only media I would consume that would provide me with TCC: Steven Universe, The Prince and the Dressmaker, the queer community on TikTok as well as my time on Ringling College campus (to name a few)  provided me with the peace and validation of my identity as a nonbinary person. In a world where trans healthcare and bodily autonomy are in danger, and many people are not supportive of my identity, I find comfort and solidarity and a reason to continue forward thanks to my exposure and interactions within the trans community- because I know there are people out there like me, going through similar things, that find comfort in knowing that I’m here too. 

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Nonbinary representation is also integral for another reason: education. For those who may not necessarily align with the experiences within this subsection within the trans community, it would certainly be enlightening to read GenderQueer. Some may discover they may potentially be nonbinary, while others will just understand and learn that there are people out there that identify as such, and this is what they may experience. It may even be a tool for nonbinary folks to use, as creating a bridge of understanding is a good way to teach those close to you why these subjects and experiences matter to you. This understanding may result in a person providing respect for your identity, and advocating for other trans folks they may meet. As a result, this action of education will over time reduce the amount of discrimination and violence against the trans community, as well as increase opportunities for TCC and the overall physical and mental health of the community.  

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Finally, works like GenderQueer can lead us to a different future. I know myself as a comic artist am inspired by works like these to create stories not only featuring queer characters, but also my own personal experiences. I know I am not alone in this sentiment, and Maia is not the first one to share eir experiences either. The more the transgender community comes together to create trans-centric media and interactions, the more TCC there is to go around, which results in more trans artists creating stories, which will hopefully spread more trans education which can result in higher acceptance of the identity. 

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The New York Times, three days prior to the creation of this paper wrote an article called “How a Debut Graphic Memoir Became the Most Banned Book in the Country” in regards to the release of GenderQueer. They interview Maia, who is now trapped in the center of a “nationwide battle over which books belong in schools”. (Alter) The article itself received backlash from readers shortly after as Alter herself failed to use Maia’s pronouns, only referring to them once within the article, and strictly using eir last name when referring to the author. The Hill’s Changing America article that was released promptly the following day revealed many disappointed nonbinary readers unhappy with the erasure of eir proper pronouns for the sake of ‘grammar’. (Migdon)  Situations like these are fairly common when discussing the trans community, but I am optimistic as this is an opportunity for education, and this discourse has made communities and individuals aware of this work and works like it- any publicity is good publicity. 

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Sharing experiences is an integral and essential part of the queer community as it provides individuals within the community to feel less alone, for those outside the community to be educated, and potentially for the community to be seen as equal in the future. There is no harm in creating queer media, as long as it follows the basic values and principles that were put in place within our communities. Especially now in such tumultuous times, as we are once again at risk of having our rights taken away and years of progress down the drain, we need media like this now more than ever. This is especially important for those at higher risk, such as the trans and nonbinary communities. 
   

 

 

 

Sources:
Alter, Alexandra. “How a Debut Graphic Memoir Became the Most Banned Book in the 
Country.” The New York Times, 2 May 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/05/01/books/maia-kobabe-gender-queer-book-ban.html.
Athena D.F. Sherman, Kristen D. Clark, Kelley Robinson, Tara Noorani, and Tonia Poteat.LGBT 
Health.Jan 2020.1-14.http://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2019.0014
Matsuno, E., Budge, S.L. Non-binary/Genderqueer Identities: a Critical Review of the Literature. 
Curr Sex Health Rep 9, 116–120 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0111-8
Meerwijk, Esther L, and Jae M Sevelius. “Transgender Population Size in the United States: a 
Meta-Regression of Population-Based Probability Samples.” American journal of public health vol. 107,2 (2017): e1-e8. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303578
Migdon, Brooke. “The New York Times Avoided Using ‘Gender Queer’ Author’s 
Genderless Pronouns in an Interview. Readers Took Notice.” The Hill: Changing America, 2 May 2022, thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/3474136-the-new-york-times-avoided-using-gender-queer-authors-genderless-pronouns-in-an-interview-readers-took-notice.