Rethinking Binary Oppositions: Non-Binary Gender Identities from Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness to Today’s Social Media Platforms

Abstract

The goal of the paper is to explore the notion of gender as a spectrum as opposed to a fixed category, with special focus on the importance of language for establishing gender identity. Relying on Judith Butler’s concept of gender and performativity, we determine the constitutive power of language. Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Left Hand of Darkness presents its readers with a postgender society on the planet of Gethen. This planet stands in stark opposition to Le Guin’s heteronormative contemporary society, deconstructing gender norms and eradicating binary oppositions such as male/female. We may consider the inhabitants of Gethen as non-binary individuals who raise questions about the entire system of gender representation. Le Guin’s novel was ahead of its time and thus paved the way for today’s freedom in expressing one’s gender fluidity. Connecting Le Guin’s novel and our contemporary society, we shall explore the rise in the number of adolescents and young adults who identify as non-binary. Non-binary gender identity is not a novelty, but its rapid growth can be attributed to the widespread popularity of social media platforms such as TikTok. Consequently, this platform may be viewed as a norm-defying space in its own right where the correct usage of pronouns when referring to non-binary individuals is one of the main tools for establishing one’s gender identity