History of nonbinary gender: Difference between revisions
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This article on the '''history of nonbinary gender''' should focus on events directly or indirectly concerning people with [[ | This article on the '''history of nonbinary gender''' should focus on events directly or indirectly concerning people with [[nonbinary]] [[gender identity|gender identities]]. It should not be about [[LGBT]] history in general. However, this history will likely need to give dates for a few events about things other than nonbinary gender, such as major events that made more visibility of [[transgender]] people in general, [[gender variant]] people from early history who may or may not have been what we think of as nonbinary, and laws that concern [[intersex]] people that can also have an effect on the legal rights of nonbinary people. | ||
'''Content warnings:''' This history may need to talk about some troubling events that could have been traumatic for some readers. Some historical quotes use language that is now seen as offensive. | '''Content warnings:''' This history may need to talk about some troubling events that could have been traumatic for some readers. Some historical quotes use language that is now seen as offensive. | ||
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== | ==Antiquity== | ||
* In Mesopotamian mythology, among the earliest written records of humanity, there are references to types of people who are neither male nor female. Sumerian and Akkadian tablets from the 2nd millennium BCE and 1700 BCE describe how the gods created these people, their roles in society, and words for different kinds of them. These included eunuchs, women who couldn't or weren't allowed to have children, men who live as women, intersex people, gay people, and others.<ref>Murray, Stephen O., and Roscoe, Will (1997). ''Islamic Homosexualities: Culture, History, and Literature.'' New York: New York University Press.</ref><ref>Nissinen, Martti (1998). ''Homoeroticism in the Biblical World'', Translated by Kirsi Stjedna. Fortress Press (November 1998) p. 30. ISBN|0-8006-2985-X<br>See also: Maul, S. M. (1992). ''Kurgarrû und assinnu und ihr Stand in der babylonischen Gesellschaft.'' Pp. 159–71 in Aussenseiter und Randgruppen. Konstanze Althistorische Vorträge und Forschungern 32. Edited by V. Haas. Konstanz: Universitätsverlag.</ref><ref>Leick, Gwendolyn (1994). ''Sex and Eroticism in Mesopotamian Literature''. Routledge. New York.</ref> | |||
* | * In ancient Egypt (Middle Kingdom, 2000-1800 BCE), there were said to be three genders of humans: men, ''sekhet (s<u>h</u>t)'', and women, in that order. Sekhet is usually translated as "eunuch," but that's probably an oversimplification of what this gender category means. It may also mean cisgender gay men, in the sense of not having children, and not necessarily someone who was castrated.<ref>Sethe, Kurt, (1926), ''Die Aechtung feindlicher Fürsten, Völker und Dinge auf altägyptischen Tongefäßscherben des mittleren Reiches,'' in: Abhandlungen der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Historische Klasse, 1926, p. 61.</ref><ref>[http://www.well.com/user/aquarius/egypt.htm The Third Gender in Ancient Egypt], Faris Malik. (web site)</ref><ref>http://www.gendertree.com/Egyptian%20third%20gender.htm</ref> | ||
* Many cultures and ethnic groups have concepts of [[gender-variant identities worldwide|traditional gender-variant roles]], with a history of them going back to antiquity. For example, [[Hijra]] and [[Two-Spirit]]. These gender identities and roles are often analogous to nonbinary identity, as they don't fit into the Western idea of the [[gender binary]] roles. | |||
* In | |||
==Eighteenth century== | ==Eighteenth century== | ||
* "[[ | * "[[Singular they]]" had already been the standard [[English neutral pronouns|gender-neutral pronoun in English]] for hundreds of years. However, in 1745, prescriptive grammarians began to say that it was no longer acceptable. Their reasoning was that neutral pronouns don't exist in Latin, which was thought to be a better language, so English shouldn't use them, either. They instead began to recommend using "[[English neutral pronouns#He|he]]" as a gender-neutral pronoun.<ref>Maria Bustillos, "Our desperate, 250-year-long search for a gender-neutral pronoun." January 6, 2011. [http://www.theawl.com/2011/01/our-desperate-250-year-long-search-for-a-gender-neutral-pronoun http://www.theawl.com/2011/01/our-desperate-250-year-long-search-for-a-gender-neutral-pronoun]</ref> This started the dispute over the problem of acceptable gender-neutral pronouns in English, which has carried on for centuries now. | ||
==Nineteenth century== | ==Nineteenth century== | ||
* The earliest known [[transsexual]] genital conversion [[surgery]] was performed in 1882 on a [[Binary genders#Transgender men|trans man]] named Herman Karl.<ref>James Sears, ''Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Issues in Education.'' p. 109. [http://books.google.com/books?id=w7365W7rQKQC&lpg=PA109&ots=gSa98lwR0v&dq=sophia%20hedwig%20transgender%20herman%20karl&pg=PA109#v=onepage&q=sophia%20hedwig%20transgender%20herman%20karl&f=false Google Books link]</ref> However, "earliest transsexual genital conversion surgery" depends on one's definition. [[Eunuch]]s have been around for all of human history, and while many eunuchs consider themselves [[Binary genders#Cisgender men|cisgender men]], many others consider themselves another gender that isn't female or male. Some sources credit the first trans male genital conversion surgery as, instead, the one performed on a trans man named Michael Dillon in the 1930s, perhaps depending on how one defines that surgery. | |||
* The earliest [[transsexual]] genital conversion [[surgery]] was performed in 1882 on a [[ | * Clinical beliefs around the time of the 1890s "conflat[ed] sex, sexual orientation, and gender expression," thinking of (to use modern words for them) gay, lesbian, transgender, and gender non-conforming people as all having some kind of intersex condition. Such people were said to have "sexual inversion," and were called "inverts."<ref>"What's the history behind the intersex rights movement?" ''Intersex Society of North America.'' http://www.isna.org/faq/history </ref> | ||
* Clinical beliefs around the time of the 1890s "conflat[ed] sex, sexual orientation, and gender expression," thinking of (to use modern words for them) gay, lesbian, transgender, and gender non-conforming people as all having some kind of intersex condition.<ref>"What's the history behind the intersex rights movement?" ''Intersex Society of North America.'' http://www.isna.org/faq/history | |||
* "In 1895, a group of self-described '[[androgyne|androgynes]]' in New York organized a 'little club called the Cercle Hermaphroditos, based on their self-perceived need 'to unite for defense against the world's bitter persecution.'" This group included people who, in today's words, may have called themselves cross-dressers and transgender people.<ref>Susan Stryker, "Why the T in LGBT is here to stay." ''Salon.'' October 11, 2007. [http://www.salon.com/2007/10/11/transgender_2/ http://www.salon.com/2007/10/11/transgender_2/] </ref> | * "In 1895, a group of self-described '[[androgyne|androgynes]]' in New York organized a 'little club called the Cercle Hermaphroditos, based on their self-perceived need 'to unite for defense against the world's bitter persecution.'" This group included people who, in today's words, may have called themselves cross-dressers and transgender people.<ref>Susan Stryker, "Why the T in LGBT is here to stay." ''Salon.'' October 11, 2007. [http://www.salon.com/2007/10/11/transgender_2/ http://www.salon.com/2007/10/11/transgender_2/] </ref> | ||
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[[File:1933-may-10-berlin-book-burning.JPG|thumb|In 1933, Nazis in Berlin burned works by leftists and other authors considered "un-German", including thousands of books looted from the library of Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research.]] | [[File:1933-may-10-berlin-book-burning.JPG|thumb|In 1933, Nazis in Berlin burned works by leftists and other authors considered "un-German", including thousands of books looted from the library of Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research.]] | ||
* During the 1910s, German sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld created the word "transvestite," which at the time meant many more kinds of transgender and even transsexual people. Hirschfeld opened the first clinic to regularly serve them.<ref>Trans Health editors, “Timeline of gender identity research.” 2002-04-23. http://www.trans-health.com/2002/timeline-of-gender-identity-research </ref> | * During the 1910s, German sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld created the word "transvestite," which at the time meant many more kinds of transgender and even transsexual people. Hirschfeld opened the first clinic to regularly serve them.<ref>Trans Health editors, “Timeline of gender identity research.” 2002-04-23. http://www.trans-health.com/2002/timeline-of-gender-identity-research </ref> Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research had a library of literature about LGBT people, collected from all over Europe, that couldn't be found anywhere else. This started to bring about a revolution in how society understood and accepted LGBT people, and allowing [[children]] to be [[gender nonconformity|gender nonconforming]]. Then, in 1933, the Nazis destroyed it all. This set back LGBT rights for another 40 or so years. The progress wasn't matched again until at least 1990. | ||
* In autobiographical writings from 1918 and 1922, [[Jennie June]] (née Earl Lind) described herself as a "fairie" and "[[androgyne]]."<ref>"History of transgenderism in the United States." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States] </ref><ref>"Earl Lind." ''Wikipedia.'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Lind http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Lind]</ref> | * In autobiographical writings from 1918 and 1922, [[Jennie June]] (née Earl Lind) described herself as a "fairie" and "[[androgyne]]."<ref>"History of transgenderism in the United States." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States] </ref><ref>"Earl Lind." ''Wikipedia.'' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Lind http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Lind]</ref> | ||
* Although Christine Jorgensen was not one of the first [[ | ===1950s=== | ||
* During the 1950s, doctors made it common practice to try to surgically and socially erase all trace of the existence of [[ | |||
* Although Christine Jorgensen was not one of the first [[Binary genders#Transgender women|trans women]] to get surgery, she became the center of a "media frenzy" in 1952.<ref>Trans Health editors, “Timeline of gender identity research.” 2002-04-23. http://www.trans-health.com/2002/timeline-of-gender-identity-research </ref> This was how many people first heard of transsexuality and the possibility of transition. | |||
* During the 1950s, doctors made it common practice to try to surgically and socially erase all trace of the existence of [[intersex]] conditions, without the consent or knowledge of the intersex people in question. This practice was tied with many of the [[Binary genders#Cisgender men|cisgender male]] sexologist John Money's claims about gender, which were influential to [[feminism]], but have since been drawn into question.<ref>"What's the history behind the intersex rights movement?" ''Intersex Society of North America.'' http://www.isna.org/faq/history </ref> | |||
===1970s=== | |||
* The earliest known recorded mention of the gender-neutral title [[Mx]] was in a magazine article in 1977,<ref>Practical Androgyny (PractiAndrogyny). May 4, 2015. [https://twitter.com/PractiAndrogyny/status/595329679789260801 https://twitter.com/PractiAndrogyny/status/595329679789260801]</ref><ref>''The Single Parent'', vol 20. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IgwdAQAAMAAJ&dq=editions%3ALCCNsc83001271&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Mx https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IgwdAQAAMAAJ&dq=editions%3ALCCNsc83001271&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Mx]</ref> and anecdotes say it was in use as far back as 1965.<ref>Cassian Lotte Lodge (cassolotl). "Mx has been around since the 1960s." November 26, 2014. Blog post. [http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/103645470405 http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/103645470405]</ref><ref>octopus8. November 18, 2014. Comment on news article. [http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/nov/17/rbs-bank-that-likes-to-say-mx#comment-43834815 http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/nov/17/rbs-bank-that-likes-to-say-mx#comment-43834815]</ref> | * The earliest known recorded mention of the gender-neutral title [[Mx]] was in a magazine article in 1977,<ref>Practical Androgyny (PractiAndrogyny). May 4, 2015. [https://twitter.com/PractiAndrogyny/status/595329679789260801 https://twitter.com/PractiAndrogyny/status/595329679789260801]</ref><ref>''The Single Parent'', vol 20. [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IgwdAQAAMAAJ&dq=editions%3ALCCNsc83001271&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Mx https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IgwdAQAAMAAJ&dq=editions%3ALCCNsc83001271&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Mx]</ref> and anecdotes say it was in use as far back as 1965.<ref>Cassian Lotte Lodge (cassolotl). "Mx has been around since the 1960s." November 26, 2014. Blog post. [http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/103645470405 http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/103645470405]</ref><ref>octopus8. November 18, 2014. Comment on news article. [http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/nov/17/rbs-bank-that-likes-to-say-mx#comment-43834815 http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/nov/17/rbs-bank-that-likes-to-say-mx#comment-43834815]</ref> | ||
* During the 1970s and 1980s, feminists Casey Miller and Kate Swift were significant influences on encouraging people to take up [[gender inclusive language]], as an alternative to sexist language that excludes or dehumanizes women. Some of their books on this are ''Words and Women'' (1976) and ''The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing'' (1980). | * During the 1970s and 1980s, feminists Casey Miller and Kate Swift were significant influences on encouraging people to take up [[gender neutral language|gender inclusive language]], as an alternative to sexist language that excludes or dehumanizes women. Some of their books on this are ''Words and Women'' (1976) and ''The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing'' (1980). They also said to use gender neutral pronouns.<ref>Elizabeth Isele, "Casey Miller and Kate Swift: Women who dared to disturb the lexicon." http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/old-WILLA/fall94/h2-isele.html </ref> | ||
* 1975: Creation of gender-neutral pronouns [[ | * 1975: Creation of gender-neutral pronouns [[English neutral pronouns#Ey|ey]].<ref>http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:List_of_protologisms_by_topic/third_person_singular_gender_neutral_pronouns#cite_note-1</ref> | ||
* In 1979, [[Binary genders#Cisgender women|cisgender woman]] Janice Raymond wrote the book ''Transsexual Empire,'' which told cisgender women to fear trans women. As a result, many feminist and women-only spaces became hostile to trans women. This dividing issue made it difficult for feminism to develop an understanding of transgender issues in general. In response, transgender studies began with an essay by trans woman Sandy Stone in 1987.<ref>"History of transgenderism in the United States." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States]</ref> | |||
* In 1979, | |||
===1980s=== | |||
* In the 1980s, the handbook of psychiatry, the DSM-III, | |||
* In the 1980s and 1990s, Michael Spivak used a set of [[ | * In the 1980s, the handbook of psychiatry, the DSM-III, included "Gender Identity Disorder" to diagnose people as transsexual.<ref>Trans Health editors, “Timeline of gender identity research.” 2002-04-23. http://www.trans-health.com/2002/timeline-of-gender-identity-research </ref> It frames being trans as a strictly pathological mental condition. Getting this diagnosis becomes a necessary step for many trans people to transition. Psychologists during this time believed that a legitimately trans person needed to conform very closely to the [[gender binary]], and even needed to be heterosexual. The psychologists focused on trans women, and isolated them from one another, so they had little community. Meanwhile, trans men got less help from that system, and so they largely left it and formed their own communities.<ref>fakecisgirl, "The Misery Pimps: The People Who Impede Trans Liberation." October 7, 2013. ''Fake Cis Girl'' (personal blog). [https://fakecisgirl.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/the-misery-pimps-the-people-who-impede-trans-liberation/ https://fakecisgirl.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/the-misery-pimps-the-people-who-impede-trans-liberation/]</ref> | ||
* In the 1980s and 1990s, Michael Spivak used a set of [[English neutral pronouns#E|gender-neutral "E, Emself" pronouns]] in his math books. These pronouns soon became known as "spivak pronouns" when they were built into a place where people talked together on the Internet.<ref>"Gender-neutral pronoun FAQ." [https://web.archive.org/web/20120229202924/http://aetherlumina.com/gnp/listing.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120229202924/http://aetherlumina.com/gnp/listing.html]</ref> | |||
===1990s=== | |||
* In 1990, the Native American/First Nations gay and lesbian conference chooses [[Two-Spirit]] as a better English umbrella term for some gender identities unique to Native American cultures.<ref>"Two-Spirit." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirit</ref> | * In 1990, the Native American/First Nations gay and lesbian conference chooses [[Two-Spirit]] as a better English umbrella term for some gender identities unique to Native American cultures.<ref>"Two-Spirit." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirit</ref> | ||
* The movement for intersex visibility and rights began in 1993.<ref>"What's the history behind the intersex rights movement?" ''Intersex Society of North America.'' http://www.isna.org/faq/history </ref> | * The movement for intersex visibility and rights began in 1993.<ref>"What's the history behind the intersex rights movement?" ''Intersex Society of North America.'' http://www.isna.org/faq/history </ref> | ||
* In 1995, a transsexual man named Carl Buijs creates the word "cisgender," meaning a non-transgender person.<ref>Julia Serano, "Whipping Girl FAQ on cissexual, cisgender, and cis privilege." 2009-05-14. [http://juliaserano.blogspot.com/2011/08/whipping-girl-faq-on-cissexual.html http://juliaserano.blogspot.com/2011/08/whipping-girl-faq-on-cissexual.html]</ref> | * In 1995, a transsexual man named Carl Buijs creates the word "cisgender," meaning a non-transgender person.<ref>Julia Serano, "Whipping Girl FAQ on cissexual, cisgender, and cis privilege." 2009-05-14. [http://juliaserano.blogspot.com/2011/08/whipping-girl-faq-on-cissexual.html http://juliaserano.blogspot.com/2011/08/whipping-girl-faq-on-cissexual.html]</ref> | ||
* In 1995, a [[neutrois]] person named [[H. A. Burnham]] creates the word | * In 1995, a [[neutrois]] person named [[H. A. Burnham]] creates the word "neutrois," a name for a nonbinary gender identity.<ref>Axey, Qwill, Rave, and Luscious Daniel, eds. “FAQ.” Neutrois Outpost. Last updated 2000-11-23. Retrieved 2001-03-07. [http://web.archive.org/web/20010307115554/http://www.neutrois.com/faq.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20010307115554/http://www.neutrois.com/faq.htm]</ref> | ||
* In 1995, the earliest known use of the word [[genderqueer]]. | * In 1995, the earliest known use of the word [[genderqueer]]. | ||
* In the late 1990s, people in Japan who identified as neither male nor female began calling themselves [[X-gender]]. | |||
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[[File:Anjali gopalan.jpg|thumb|Asia's first gender queer pride parade in Madurai, 2012.]] | [[File:Anjali gopalan.jpg|thumb|Asia's first gender queer pride parade in Madurai, 2012.]] | ||
[[File:SF Pride 2014 - Stierch 3.jpg|thumb|Two-spirited pride marchers at San Francisco Pride 2014.]] | [[File:SF Pride 2014 - Stierch 3.jpg|thumb|Two-spirited pride marchers at San Francisco Pride 2014.]] | ||
===2000s=== | |||
* In 2003, Australia began to let people mark their gender as "X" on their birth certificates and passports.<ref>"Genderqueer - Australia." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genderqueer#Australia</ref> | * In 2003, Australia began to let people mark their gender as "X" on their birth certificates and passports.<ref>"Genderqueer - Australia." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genderqueer#Australia</ref> | ||
===2010s=== | |||
* In 2013, a newer version of the handbook of psychiatry, the DSM-5, replaces the "gender identity disorder" diagnosis with "gender dysphoria," to lessen the pathologization of transgender people.<ref>"History of transgenderism in the United States." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States]</ref> | * In 2013, a newer version of the handbook of psychiatry, the DSM-5, replaces the "gender identity disorder" diagnosis with "gender dysphoria," to lessen the pathologization of transgender people.<ref>"History of transgenderism in the United States." ''Wikipedia.'' Retrieved November 29, 2014. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_transgenderism_in_the_United_States]</ref> | ||
* In 2014, the social networking site Facebook began to let users to choose from 50 gender options. Meanwhile, the transgender community on the social networking site Tumblr created hundreds of [[ | * In 2014, the social networking site Facebook began to let users to choose from 50 gender options. Meanwhile, the transgender community on the social networking site Tumblr created hundreds of [[nounself pronouns]]. | ||
* In 2015, Dictionary.com put in the nonbinary gender words [[agender]], [[bigender]], and [[ | * In 2015, Dictionary.com put in the nonbinary gender words [[agender]], [[bigender]], and [[genderfluid]].<ref>"New words added to Dictionary.com." May 6, 2015. ''Dictionary.com.'' [http://blog.dictionary.com/2015-new-words/ http://blog.dictionary.com/2015-new-words/]</ref> Meanwhile, the Oxford English Dictionary announced that it might add the title [[Mx]].<ref>Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith, "Gender neutral honorific Mx 'to be included' in the Oxford English Dictionary alongside Mr, Ms and Mrs and Miss." May 3, 2015. ''The Independent''. [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gender-neutral-honorific-mx-to-be-included-in-the-oxford-english-dictionary-alongside-mr-ms-and-mrs-and-miss-10222287.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gender-neutral-honorific-mx-to-be-included-in-the-oxford-english-dictionary-alongside-mr-ms-and-mrs-and-miss-10222287.html]</ref><ref>Mary Papenfuss, "Oxford Dictionary may include gender-neutral honorific 'Mx'." May 5, 2015. ''International Business Times.'' [http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/oxford-dictionary-may-include-gender-neutral-honorific-mx-1499626 http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/oxford-dictionary-may-include-gender-neutral-honorific-mx-1499626]</ref> | ||
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