Gender Binary

The gender-binary is the system of classifying gender into two distinct, opposite forms, male or female, a system which is upheld by social or cultural means. Ben is a nonbinary individual. This means that they do not identify as either male or female, which are the two genders within the dichotomized gender-binary embodied by much of mainstream western/European culture.

Throughout the novel, Ben’s narration and experience will point out various moments where people in their life either strive and succeed to accommodate their nonbinary identity, attempt to accommodate them and fail to do so for various reasons, or consciously and knowingly reject Ben’s nonbinary identity. A primary way that this experience is illustrated is through the use of pronouns. Ben’s preferred pronouns are they/them/theirs, but since they were born into a male body, many people in Ben’s communities...