Beyond the Gender Binary

April 1, 2020
Artist and activist Vaid-Menon demonstrates how the normativity of the gender binary represses creativity and inflicts physical and emotional violence. The author, whose parents emigrated from India, writes about how enforcement of the gender binary begins before birth and affects people in all stages of life, with people of color being especially vulnerable due to Western conceptions of gender as binary. Gender assignments create a narrative for how a person should behave, what they are allowed to like or wear, and how they express themself. Punishment of nonconformity leads to an inseparable link between gender and shame. Vaid-Menon challenges familiar arguments against gender nonconformity, breaking them down into four categories--dismissal, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope (fear of the consequences of acceptance). Headers in bold font create an accessible navigation experience from one analysis to the next. The prose maintains a conversational tone that feels as intimate and vulnerable as talking with a best friend. At the same time, the author's turns of phrase in moments of deep insight ring with precision and poetry. In one reflection, they write, "the most lethal part of the human body is not the fist; it is the eye. What people see and how people see it has everything to do with power." While this short essay speaks honestly of pain and injustice, it concludes with encouragement and an invitation into a future that celebrates transformation. A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change. (writing prompt) (Nonfiction. 14-adult)

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June 26, 2020

Gr 7 Up-Activist and artist Vaid-Menon writes with purpose and passion about the harmful impact of judging gender non-conforming individuals through the lens of the gender binary. The author, who grew up in an Indian American family in College Station, TX, recounts how their experience, their life, and their way of moving through the world were not only viewed as wrong but as something to be ashamed of. They explain, "Overnight, so many of the things that I loved not only became associated with femininity but with shame." They share their process of personal growth during adolescence and young adulthood, which led to self-acceptance, pride, and the freedom and joy that accompanied that awareness. The second half of this short, powerful book breaks down the arguments that are often leveled against people who live beyond the gender binary. These arguments are divided into four categories: dismissal, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope. Each argument is defined and then Vaid-Menon brilliantly explains how damaging, short-sighted, and often hypocritical these assertions can be. Overall, the message is empowering, informative, and supportive, offering young people a beacon of hope in what can be a dark time. VERDICT An affirming, thoughtful read for all ages. Recommended.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill Sch., Cambridge, MA

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