The Role of Language in Nonbinary Identity Construction: Gender Words Matter

Languages influence how gender is perceived in a specific culture. Italian, for instance, consistently marks gender-binary distinctions, thus contributing to the underrepresentation of nonbinary gender identities. The present study explored how nonbinary Italian speakers define themselves and their gender identity and expression through language. Forty nonbinary participants were administered a semi-structured interview exploring how the semantic space of their gender identities is constructed. Specifically, we assessed linguistic strategies employed by participants to express their gender identities, along with the use of pronouns and identity labels combining text mining and thematic analysis of transcripts. The most frequent identity labels were “nonbinary” and “trans.” Furthermore, results evidenced participants’ need to overcome gender-binary linguistic distinctions through the use of gender-neutral or gender-inclusive desinences like the schwa (ə), modifications of Italian feminine and masculine pronouns (loi, lai), use of English pronouns, and Italian plural forms. Linguistic associations retrieved through text mining techniques further underlined the dynamical character of participants’ identity narratives, along with the performative component of language. Finally, the thematic analysis highlighted differences among subgroups of participants (e.g., between participants identifying as “transgender,” “genderqueer,” and “agender”) in their experience and conceptualization of gender identity. In a society rooted in a binary gender system, nonbinary people face complex challenges in expressing their identity. Here we showed that inclusive language significantly impacts self-definition through the transmission of meanings and experiences—thus fostering visibility and understanding of gender minority groups.