There was a time in my life when I found it difficult to identify my gender. But that was because at six years old I didn’t understand how I could fit the four letters of “girl” into the itty-bitty box on whatever form I was filling out.

While an “f” for “female” eventually eradicated my confusion, the problem of that itty-bitty box and its two rigid options has persisted for many others.

In a significant move toward recognition of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, Facebook recently announced that it would expand its binary gender options to more than 50 choices. By allowing U.S., English-language users to identify as trans, intersex or genderqueer, among others, the company effectively enables individuals to accurately express themselves on a social forum that has come to serve as a virtual extension of self-identity.

Brielle Harrison, a transwoman and Facebook software engineer who worked on the project summed up the importance of the expanded options in an interview with the Associated Press: “There’s going to be a lot of people for whom this is going to mean nothing,” she said, “but for the few it does impact, it means the world.”

The ability to self-identify gender beyond the male-female binary gives gender nonconforming users agency in terms of the way they represent themselves to the world. This choice is more than deserved.

Beginning on Feb. 13, according to a GLAAD blog post, Facebook users could begin to choose custom genders; which Facebook friends they want to share their gender selections with; and which pronouns they prefer — think “Wish them a happy birthday,” as opposed to him or her.

And Facebook seems to have covered all the bases with the change, even from an advertorial standpoint. The site’s ubiquitous advertisements will target users based on the pronouns they select, according to a Feb. 13 Associated Press article. Because a changed gender will not appear on Facebook timelines as a “life event,” it will be impossible for advertisers to target users specifically as transgender or gender nonconforming.

In addition to its direct significance for those who will take advantage of it, the expansion of gender options marks a small step toward actively changing a culture of discrimination surrounding gender nonconforming individuals in general.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality note that 90 percent of transgender and gender nonconforming people report some sort of harassment at work. In addition, 41 percent reported attempting suicide, compared to 1.6 percent of the general population.

Greater widespread awareness and understanding of gender nonconforming communities must be realized for appalling discrimination of this demographic to cease. By recognizing that gender exists on a spectrum and is not limited to male and female, Facebook sets a positive standard for its users to consider and for other organizations to follow.

The move is in line with Facebook’s priorities, as the company has established a positive track record in terms of working with LGBT-activist groups to ensure the site is safe and inclusive for all users. This includes Facebook’s addition of the relationship options “in a domestic partnership” and “in a civil union,” as well as adjusting policies that address anti-LGBT comments posted on public pages, according to GLAAD’s blog.

And now, Facebook users who are transgender and gender nonconforming can scroll through their pages knowing that in at least one more outlet, they are free to express themselves as they choose.

Nicki Gorny is a junior newspaper and online journalism and Spanish major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at nagorny@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @Nicki_Gorny. 

Published on February 24, 2014 at 9:49 pm