Deconstruction of the the Binary
by Sienna Sangra
by Sienna Sangra
Male or female? Straight or gay? The frustration of non-binary folks with society’s
tendency to force individuals to conform within its socially constructed categories is reflected in
an article written by David Bateman, published in The Link: The Gay and Lesbian Special Issue.
In this paper, I will discuss the parallel between the gender binary and sexual orientation binary
that Bateman presents and how it excludes individuals who do not conform to being male or
female, nor gay or straight from being accepted. Furthermore, I will argue that the lack of
acceptance of bisexuality as a true form of sexual identity, that Bateman discusses, is still
apparent today. Finally, I will discuss how Bateman’s article reflects society’s overarching
tendency and desire to place individuals into homogenous and distinct categories, such as being
female, and then conclude by suggesting the implementation of a continuum of identity and
behaviour as a replacement to the problematic categories that exist currently.
This article by Bateman, published in 1984, is an opinion-based piece which draws on personal experience to support the underlying argument against the sexual and gender binaries apparent in society at the time. 1. The author begins by describing a personal story, taking place in Peterborough, Ontario, which sets the tone for the article and foreshadows the argument 2. The author, who identifies as an androgynous individual, possessing both masculine and feminine characteristics, describes an incident in which they were confronted by a stranger who uninvitedly and rudely questioned whether they were male or female. The author describes not being offended by the confusion of the stranger, but the “careless” manner in which the stranger voiced their confusion3. The lack of surprise in the author’s reaction to the incident is understandable given that it occurred some time around 1984. While homosexuality may have been becoming slightly more accepted at the time, the “rigidity of male and female roles” remained firm and therefore, it is likely that an androgynous appearing individual, like the author, would have commonly experienced this type of confusion or more accurately, verbal abuse, due to their non-binary identification.4
This article by Bateman, published in 1984, is an opinion-based piece which draws on personal experience to support the underlying argument against the sexual and gender binaries apparent in society at the time. 1. The author begins by describing a personal story, taking place in Peterborough, Ontario, which sets the tone for the article and foreshadows the argument 2. The author, who identifies as an androgynous individual, possessing both masculine and feminine characteristics, describes an incident in which they were confronted by a stranger who uninvitedly and rudely questioned whether they were male or female. The author describes not being offended by the confusion of the stranger, but the “careless” manner in which the stranger voiced their confusion3. The lack of surprise in the author’s reaction to the incident is understandable given that it occurred some time around 1984. While homosexuality may have been becoming slightly more accepted at the time, the “rigidity of male and female roles” remained firm and therefore, it is likely that an androgynous appearing individual, like the author, would have commonly experienced this type of confusion or more accurately, verbal abuse, due to their non-binary identification.4
In the remainder of the article, Bateman reflects on how the incident demonstrates how
society imposes a a strict gender binary on individuals and is confused and unaccepting towards
individuals who do not identify, behave and appear within the binary of male or female.
The author goes on to draw a link between the rigid gender binary, between male and female, and the sexual binary, between homosexuality and heterosexuality, which was becoming more rigid at the time of the article, as homosexuality became more accepted as a legitimate form of sexuality. The author, who identifies as androgynous and bisexual, expresses how this polarization of gender and sexuality systemically excludes and delegitimizes individuals like themselves, who do not identify as male or female, nor homosexual or heterosexual, but rather, as somewhere in between. The author challenges the rigidity and inherent nature of these boundaries surrounding sexuality and identity, claiming that these distinctions are in fact, “vulnerable” and “artificial” by nature5. Here, the author’s vocabulary alludes to two important points that continue to be used as arguments today. First, that these binaries are socially constructed and second, that these boundaries are not as rigid as they seem but rather, blurred and weak in reality.
The author goes on to draw a link between the rigid gender binary, between male and female, and the sexual binary, between homosexuality and heterosexuality, which was becoming more rigid at the time of the article, as homosexuality became more accepted as a legitimate form of sexuality. The author, who identifies as androgynous and bisexual, expresses how this polarization of gender and sexuality systemically excludes and delegitimizes individuals like themselves, who do not identify as male or female, nor homosexual or heterosexual, but rather, as somewhere in between. The author challenges the rigidity and inherent nature of these boundaries surrounding sexuality and identity, claiming that these distinctions are in fact, “vulnerable” and “artificial” by nature5. Here, the author’s vocabulary alludes to two important points that continue to be used as arguments today. First, that these binaries are socially constructed and second, that these boundaries are not as rigid as they seem but rather, blurred and weak in reality.
It is important to reflect on the significance that this article must’ve had in the context of
1984 and relate this to the significance and relevance this article still has in the context of today.
In particular, there are several issues presented in this article regarding bisexuality that continue
to be relevant today. First, the author describes how bisexuality is not seen as a true form of
sexuality, but rather a “refusal to be honest about one’s sexuality”, which is a misperception that
continues to exist today6. A 2013 paper, written by Alaire and Gaudet, parallels the 1984 article
in that it describes how bisexuality continues to be “ignored” and seen as a “temporary”,
transitional phase rather than an accepted, legitimate, and long-lasting form of sexual identity, as
it should be7. Alaire and Gaudet echo Batmen’s argument in their discussion of how the
exclusion of bisexuality as a true form of identity further perpetuates the rigid sexual binary of
heterosexuality and homosexuality, which remains dominant today. Furthermore, the
promiscuous stigma surrounding bisexuality that Bateman described in his 1984 article remains
apparent as well. For example, a study found that public female intimacy towards another female
is “more likely to be perceived as promiscuous" than public female intimacy towards a male8. In
sum, it seems that the frustrations expressed by Bateman concerning the lack of acceptance of
bisexuality continue to be apparent today.
Overall, I believe that the underlying argument of this article speaks to the ongoing, broader issue regarding society’s tendency and desire to label individuals and place them into homogenous, distinct categories. Individuals who do not conform to or identify within these rigid boundaries seem to pose a threat to the status quo and structure laid out by society and in consequence, are delegitimized and not accepted. For instance, society’s tendency to group individuals within distinct, labelled categories is also seen in how we inherently label people by the colour of their skin and other physical characteristics and place them into discrete racial and cultural categories. In parallel to Bateman’s discussion of how bisexual individuals often do not feel accepted within the “heterosexual and homosexual” communities, biracial individuals often do not feel accepted by the two or more racial communities that they belong to9. Similar to how bisexual individuals are pressured to choose one sexuality to conform to and how androgynous individuals are pressured to choose one gender to identify with, biracial individuals often feel pressured to identify with only one of their ethnicities in order to be accepted. Therefore, there appears to be a pattern in which society is made uncomfortable by individuals who do not fall under a single, socially constructed category and as a result, insist that individuals conform their behaviour, appearance and identity underneath one of these categories if they wish to be accepted.
Overall, I believe that the underlying argument of this article speaks to the ongoing, broader issue regarding society’s tendency and desire to label individuals and place them into homogenous, distinct categories. Individuals who do not conform to or identify within these rigid boundaries seem to pose a threat to the status quo and structure laid out by society and in consequence, are delegitimized and not accepted. For instance, society’s tendency to group individuals within distinct, labelled categories is also seen in how we inherently label people by the colour of their skin and other physical characteristics and place them into discrete racial and cultural categories. In parallel to Bateman’s discussion of how bisexual individuals often do not feel accepted within the “heterosexual and homosexual” communities, biracial individuals often do not feel accepted by the two or more racial communities that they belong to9. Similar to how bisexual individuals are pressured to choose one sexuality to conform to and how androgynous individuals are pressured to choose one gender to identify with, biracial individuals often feel pressured to identify with only one of their ethnicities in order to be accepted. Therefore, there appears to be a pattern in which society is made uncomfortable by individuals who do not fall under a single, socially constructed category and as a result, insist that individuals conform their behaviour, appearance and identity underneath one of these categories if they wish to be accepted.
In today’s context, the ideas presented in Bateman’s article parallel and support the
upcoming idea of framing sexuality and identity on a spectrum or continuum, rather than within
a binary with rigid boundaries. The idea of a continuum is that matters like gender and sexual
identity ought to be seen on a spectrum, in which we as individuals can fall on one side or the
other, or anywhere in between. For example, instead of a binary between homosexuality and
heterosexuality or male and female, there ought to be a scale or line in between the two, in which
individuals can decide where they fall instead of being forced to choose one or the other. In line
with this ideology, there appears to be compelling evidence that a continuum may in fact be a
better representation of human sexuality than a binary. A study by Dr. Kinsey used a “seven pointscale”, rather than the usual two point scale (gay or straight), to rank participants self-reported
sexuality and found that self-identifying “straight” individuals fell between 1 and 3, which is
within the continuum of heterosexuality and bisexuality10. This study reflects how human
sexuality, much like other aspects of human behaviour, cannot and should not be reflected
through a binary and/or categorization and can be used as evidence to support the idea of a
continuum.
To conclude, a quote by Alfred Kinsey well summarizes the ideas I have presented: “the
world is not to be divided into sheep and goats. Not all things are black nor white. It is a
fundamental taxonomy that nature rarely deals with discrete categories and tries to force facts
into separated pigeon holes. The world is a continuum in each and every one of its aspects”11.
1 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal,
QC), March. 20, 1984.
2 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
3 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
4 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
5 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
6 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
7 Milline Alarie and Stephanie Gaudet, “I Don’t Know if She is Bisexual or If She Just Wants to Get Attention”: Analyzing the Various Mechanisms Through Which Emerging Adults Invisibilize Bisexuality,” Journal of Bisexuality 13, (2013): 191-214, doi: 10.1080/15299716.2013.780004
8 Milline Alarie and Stephanie Gaudet, “I Don’t Know if She is Bisexual or If She Just Wants to Get Attention”: Analyzing the Various Mechanisms Through Which Emerging Adults Invisibilize Bisexuality,” Journal of Bisexuality 13, (2013): 191-214, doi: 10.1080/15299716.2013.780004
9 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
10 Sam Killermann, “The Genderbread Person” It’s Pronounced Metrosexual, last modified November 7, 2011. http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2011/11/breaking-through- the-binary-gender-explained-using-continuums/
11 Christopher Cockrill and Paula Sipniewicz, “Trying to Identify with Two Worlds,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
2 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
3 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
4 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
5 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
6 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
7 Milline Alarie and Stephanie Gaudet, “I Don’t Know if She is Bisexual or If She Just Wants to Get Attention”: Analyzing the Various Mechanisms Through Which Emerging Adults Invisibilize Bisexuality,” Journal of Bisexuality 13, (2013): 191-214, doi: 10.1080/15299716.2013.780004
8 Milline Alarie and Stephanie Gaudet, “I Don’t Know if She is Bisexual or If She Just Wants to Get Attention”: Analyzing the Various Mechanisms Through Which Emerging Adults Invisibilize Bisexuality,” Journal of Bisexuality 13, (2013): 191-214, doi: 10.1080/15299716.2013.780004
9 Jason Bateman, “Judging Bi Labels,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
10 Sam Killermann, “The Genderbread Person” It’s Pronounced Metrosexual, last modified November 7, 2011. http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2011/11/breaking-through- the-binary-gender-explained-using-continuums/
11 Christopher Cockrill and Paula Sipniewicz, “Trying to Identify with Two Worlds,” The Link: Gay & Lesbian Special Issue (Montreal, QC), March. 20, 1984.
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