What Does “Binary” Mean Sexually?

The word binary is used to describe a gender identity or sexual orientation where an individual identifies as male or female. It’s also used to describe relationships where two people identify as either male or female and thus have a binary sexual orientation — heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Put simply, binary-gender individuals identify as either male or female, while non-binary individuals don’t assign themselves a gender.

The term binary is derived from the Latin word bi- meaning two. While it is often used to describe the gender binary—a gender system consisting of only two genders—many binary-identified people use the term to describe their own gender identity or sexual orientation.

Understanding the Gender Binary

The gender binary is defined as a social construct that divides people into two distinct categories – male and female. It assigns behaviour, roles and identities to each gender and prescribes gender roles in relationships. It also dictates how people should dress and behave, what they should like and how they should look.

This binary system has been used for centuries and is still very prevalent in today’s culture. It is rooted in stereotypes, beliefs and attitudes about gender and sexuality that have been traditionally reinforced by society.

Gender non-conforming people, or those who do not conform to the gender binary, have often been ridiculed and stigmatised for not falling within the two “boxes” of male and female.

Non-Binary Identities

Recently, the concept of non-binary identities has gained more acceptance in mainstream culture. Non-binary identities are those that do not align with the male-female binary. They may identify as genderfluid, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, agender, bigender, and more.

Non-binary people may identify with multiple genders, or no gender at all. They may present themselves in ways that don’t adhere to gender norms, or they may simply feel like they’re on the “in-between”.

Rather than dividing people into either male or female, non-binary people are recognised as having gender identities that are neither exclusively male nor female, yet may be both.

Conclusion

The gender binary has long been accepted as the standard for gender and sexuality, but an increasing number of people are recognizing and embracing non-binary identities and sexual orientations. Non-binary genders challenge traditional gender norms and help create a more inclusive culture. By understanding and embracing non-binary identities, we can create a world that is more welcoming and accepting of all genders.