Exploring the Gender (Non)Binary

Lily Barraclough

Abstract


This research poster is a qualitative study exploring the experiences of ALOK, a gender non-conforming mixed-media artist of colour, and Jonathan Van Ness (JVN), a white settler non-binary TV star on Queer Eye and influencer using a podcast transcript from Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness of a conversation between JVN and ALOK. The research explores what stories and narratives ALOK and JVN use to describe their experiences as non-binary people, examines how those narratives construct their queer identities through an intersectional lens, and compares the experiences of ALOK and JVN with the gender binary through identifying shared and opposing themes. The findings are presented through found poetry, a method through which the research uses phrases from the words of the participants (in this case from the podcast) to write poetry highlighting the main themes and ideas. The found poetry and discussion highlights experiences of emotional pain and trauma due to the oppression they face, experiences of being “othered”, and the lack of acceptance both within and outside the queer community of their gender identities.

Keywords


Gender, 2SLGBTQIA+, Qualitative, Artistic Exploration

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References


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