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Topic

Breaking the Binary: Gender Identity Communication of Nonbinary Individuals in Türkiye

Department of Sociology

Date & location

• Tuesday, December 10, 2024

• 1:30 P.M.

• Cornett A317

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Aaron Devor, Department of Sociology, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Dr. Katelin Albert, Department of Sociology, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Evren Savci, Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, Yale University 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Darlene Clover, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UVic 

Abstract

This qualitative study explores nonbinary individuals’ experiences with communicating gender by asking how they, while predominantly speaking Turkish and living in Türkiye, try to communicate to other people that they are nonbinary. Turkish-speaking individuals who do not identify with binary genders employ various communication strategies, offering valuable insights into the relationship between gender and language. 

Drawing on 13 in-depth interviews with nonbinary people living in Türkiye, this research offers three key findings. First, Turkish-speaking nonbinary people suffer less from grammar based challenges and more from semantic challenges when communicating their identities because Turkish is a grammatically gender-neutral language. Second, participants discuss different strategies they use to express their nonbinary identity, such as borrowing words from other languages and using humor to smooth over challenging conversations. They also frequently take on the role of educating others about gender-related terms and concepts. Finally, participants stress that communicating their gender identity goes beyond simply sharing; it’s about being acknowledged and accepted. Therefore, their methods of expression shift depending on the social context, societal expectations, and the availability of supportive resources. Taken together, these findings reveal how the Turkish language, along with cisheterosexual norms and expectations, shape both the construction and expression of gender identity. This research offers a unique look at the relationship between society’s use of language and the impact of language on society, while taking into account the influence of traditions and cultural norms.