Table Of Content‘This book is a vital addition to the burgeoning research literature on non-binary
experience, and to gender studies more broadly. It presents the first study of its
kind to examine the language that non-binary people use to make sense of their
experience. Beautifully written, accessible, and engaging, this book invites the
reader into exciting and innovative theories and methods, as well as some truly
fascinating findings.’
Dr Meg-John Barker, author of Life isn’t Binary
‘This important text persuasively argues for scholarship to understand how trans
and non-binary linguistics centres practices and subjectivities, important to any
understanding of gender. They cast new light on gender and the power of words,
the ephemeral nature of categories, and their significance to embodiment.’
Dr Zowie Davy, De Montfort University, UK
NON-BINARY GENDER
IDENTITIES
Non-Binary Gender Identities examines how non-binary people discover, adopt, and
negotiate language in a variety of social settings, both offline and online. It
considers how language, in the form of gender-neutral pronouns, names, and
labels, is a central aspect of identity for many and has been the subject of much
debate in recent years.
Cordoba captures the psychological, social, and linguistic experiences of non-
binary people by illustrating the multiple, complex, and evolving ways in which non-
binary people use language to express their gender identities, bodies, authenticity, and
navigate social interactions – especially those where their identities are not affirmed.
These findings shed light on the gender and linguistic becomings of non-binary
people, a pioneering theoretical framework developed in the book, which reflects the
dynamic realities of language, subjectivities, and the materiality of the body. Informed
by these findings, the text offers recommendations for policy makers and practitioners,
designed to facilitate gender-related communication and decrease language-related
distress on non-binary people, as well as the general population.
This important book advances our understanding of non-binary gender
identities by employing innovative methodologies – including corpus-based
research and network visualisation – furthering and developing theory, and
yielding original insights. It is essential reading for students and academics in social
psychology and gender studies, as well as anyone interested in furthering their
understanding of non-binary gender identities.
Sebastian Cordoba (he/him) is a lecturer of Psychology at the University of
Suffolk and an adjunct assistant professor at The City College of New York-
CUNY. Sebastian is a social and LGBTQ+ psychologist. His research interests
include: gender, sexuality, and language; new materialist approaches to research;
and corpus linguistics.
Gender and Sexualities in Psychology
Series Editors: Elizabeth Peel and Elizabeth Stokoe
Gender and Sexualities in Psychology is a book series showcasing scholarly work over
a wide range of areas within gender and sexualities in psychology, and the in-
tersection of gender, feminism, sexualities, and LGBTQI psychology with other
areas of the discipline.
The series includes theoretically and empirically informed scholarship including
critical, feminist, queer, trans, social, and intersectional perspectives, and encourages
creative and innovative methodological approaches. The series adopts an inclusive
approach to the discipline of psychology, as well as its cross-cutting relationship to
related disciplines, and recognises diversity in research on genders and sexualities.
Titles in the series:
Bisexual and Pansexual Identities
Exploring and Challenging Invisibility and Invalidation, 1st Edition
Nikki Hayfield
Queer Ink
A Blotted History Towards Liberation
Katherine Hubbard
Reproductive Losses
Challenges to LGBTQ Family-Making
Christa Craven
Emergent Identities
New Sexualities, Genders and Relationships in a Digital Era
Rob Cover
For further information about this series please visit: https://www.routledge.com/
Gender-and-Sexualities-in-Psychology/book-series/GSP
NON-BINARY
GENDER IDENTITIES
The Language of Becoming
Sebastian Cordoba
Cover image: Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Sebastian Cordoba
The right of Sebastian Cordoba to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Names: Cordoba, Sebastian, 1989- author.
Title: Non-binary gender identities: the language of becoming / Sebastian
Cordoba.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. | Series:
Gender and sexualities in psychology | Includes bibliographical references
and index. | Identifiers: LCCN 2022017061 (print) | LCCN 2022017062
(ebook) | ISBN 9780367637095 (paperback) | ISBN 9780367637101
(hardback) | ISBN 9781003120360 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Gender-nonconforming people. | Gender identity.
Classification: LCC HQ77.9 .C67 2023 (print) | LCC HQ77.9 (ebook) |
DDC 306.76/8--dc23/eng/20220425
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022017061
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022017062
ISBN: 978-0-367-63710-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-63709-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-12036-0 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003120360
Typeset in Bembo
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
To all the women and queers who helped me become.
CONTENTS
List of Figures and Tables x
Notes on the Author xi
Acknowledgements xii
Preface xiii
1 Becoming non-binary: Language and identity 1
2 Gender and linguistic becomings: Beyond positivism and
social constructionism 28
3 Materialist methods: The research-assemblage 44
4 Gender and linguistic becomings: Affective intensities 57
5 Language-related distress: Proximities and intentions 81
6 The non-binary corpus: A network of linguistic and
material intensities 105
7 Non-binary assemblage: Becoming something else 144
References 156
Appendices 171
Index 177
