They/Them/Their

July 8, 2019
In this accessible reference, Young, a U.K.-based American linguist who identifies as neither male nor female and uses they/them/their pronouns, introduces and defines issues surrounding “nonbinary-identified and genderqueer people—people whose gender identities lie outside the simple binary of male and female.” Drawing from internet research, interviews, and studies, Young sets out to explain these issues to “the people who want to understand but might not yet have the means to do so.” Young explains that “pronouns are where the gender issue in anglophone countries usually centres.... The question at the heart of the pronoun debate is fundamentally one of autonomy—the ability of a demographic, especially a marginalised one, to name itself and thus claim agency or control over how it is referred to, and by extension, treated.” Quoting survey respondents on their experiences, Young gives readers a succinct tour through nonbinary and genderqueer experience, including the importance of community, coming out or remaining closeted, dating and relationships, gender affirmation surgeries and treatments, and legal struggles, and helpfully concludes each chapter with recommendations, exercises, or discussion questions. For those new to the topic, this well-organized guide will get the ball rolling.