In discussions of the relationship between gender and activism, women and men and the resulting ideologies of femininity and masculinity are often the main topics of concern. These discussions might consider how female activists are treated differently than male activists, how activists have coalesced around gendered social movements such as feminism, or how the sociopolitical challenges women face differ from those of men. However, many of these conversations are sorely lacking when it comes to one group of people: non-binary individuals. At this point in the history of social justice, the gender binaries of male and female have long been a focal point of social movements, but little attention has been paid to those who identify outside of the binary, such as genderqueer, genderfluid, agender or any other genre. non-binary identity. (Bergman) In this article I will discuss the importance of considering non-binary people regarding the relationship between gender and activism, highlighting the notions of gender contained in non-binary activism, the ways in which non-binary activism has manifested and the connections between non-binary activists and other social movements. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Ideologies promoted by nonbinary activism such as gender performativity and gender divergence are not just queer or transgender issues; they are theories that are applicable and must be understood by all genders. Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity is described by sociologist Alison Rooke as "an epistemological framework for promoting much-needed social justice agendas" regarding gender-related activism. (Rooke) “Gender performativity” argues that individuals are not born with an inherent gender identity, but that gender is an ongoing performance, and the presentation of masculinity or femininity is “achieved,” not innate. (Rooke) Transgender and nonbinary activists have often cited this concept as it challenges the distinction between “normative” and “deviant” gender categories and broadens society's idea of ​​possible gender identities. (Schep) Accepting that gender is a social construct and performance rather than a biological category allows activists, whether cisgender or trans, to critically examine how women and/or non-binary people have been treated in society traditional and social movements. (Bergman) The nonbinary movement is not alone in this regard; trans activists such as Kate Bornstein and Stephen Whittle argue that the transgender rights movement, stemming from the response to transgender-exclusive radical feminism, has challenged the gender binary since its inception, a struggle that has implications for both cisgender populations than for transgender women. (Bergman) Nonbinary activism has manifested itself with a variety of goals, all centered on the rights and safety of individuals who identify outside the gender binary. (Bergman) Non-binary activism is an umbrella for a wide variety of ideas, but some of the current main focuses are conducting research with non-binary people to gain data on the challenges they face, campaigning for non-binary people's rights to self-determine their gender, promote the use and legitimacy of gender-neutral pronouns, and provide accessibility for non-binary people in public spaces, such as having gender-neutral bathrooms. (Bergman) Furthermore, it has been provenstatistically that non-binary and transgender people are a medically disadvantaged community, due to doctors refusing access to healthcare because individuals do not identify with their biological gender in their medical records or because doctors do not I am aware of how to work with non-cisgender bodies. (Hanssmann) While many unfamiliar with nonbinary activism may mistakenly call it a new inventionBorn in the 21st century, these goals have their roots in older trans, queer, and bisexual movements, as well as drawing on various schools of thought feminist. (Bergman) Just as individuals have examined how binary genders interact with activism, researchers have recently turned to consider the relationship between activism and non-binary people. In a study reviewed by the Humboldt Journal of Social Relations, researchers collected gender identity survey data from a college population and focused on responses from those who identify outside the gender binary. (Chang) They found that the life experiences of those who identify outside the gender binary are “distinctly different” from those of individuals who conform to defined gender roles. (Chang) Additionally, those who identify as nonbinary are much more likely to see the world as more dangerous and less inclusive, which can be a significant push for nonbinary individuals to participate in activism. (Chang) One might consider how this compares with the experiences of women, who generally see the world as more dangerous than men, and the implication that personal life experience is a central motivation for activists. (Rooke) Of course, non-binary people are not the only ones who are often excluded, even within progressive social movements. As members of the LGBT community, non-binary people have deep connections to gay and transgender activism; however, many people have noted that non-binary people often have less say than cisgender activists within the movement. (Bergman) This is a contemporary obstacle that reflects issues faced by a number of other groups in the past, particularly by women activists within social movements. For example, despite being an active participant and iconic symbol of the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks was often sidelined in activist forums because she was a woman. (Parks) While her contributions to the movement were undeniably significant, she was often asked simply to serve as a symbol for other activists, but was rarely encouraged to express her own opinions or even comment on those of others. (Parks) Likewise, the presence of non-binary people in LGBT activism is often permitted and even encouraged, but their personal voices and concerns are often unheard and downplayed. (Bergman) Furthermore, even when non-binary voices are heard in their own community, other progressive social movements have historically refused to listen. (Schep) Even radical groups such as Lavender Menace, composed of radical lesbian feminists such as Karla Jay, were subjected to second-wave feminism of transgender exclusion, which reached its peak during the 1970s when the group was formed. (Jay) Karla Jay describes in her memoir how the Lavender Menace aimed to showcase the legitimacy of lesbian activists in feminist social movements, since many mainstream feminists of the time fiercely excluded lesbians from their activism in overt acts of homophobia. (Jay) Despite this fight for the inclusion of lesbians in gay circles.