Family beyond the binary: Non-binary people’s expectations and experiences of family life in the UK

More and more individuals are defining their gender identity outside of the male/female binary, with a recent global survey finding that 1% of the population overall, and 3% of individuals born after 1997entify as non-binary (Ipsos, 2023). Non-binary individuals represent a sizable and growing population, yet non-binary identities and experiences have tended to be neglected from research and the small body of research that has been conducted suggests that non-binary people face considerable misunderstanding and stigma. The ways in which individuals experience family life are also changing, with more people choosing to ‘do family’ in ways that differ from traditional expectations. LGBTQ+ individuals have long been found to define and experience their families in diverse ways, yet we know little about non-binary individuals’ experiences of family. This project addresses this significant knowledge gap, providing the first empirical insight into the expectations and experiences of family (including both bio-legal and chosen families) amongst non-binary individuals in the UK. Designed and conducted in collaboration with Gendered Intelligence, the UK’s leading gender diversity charity, this multi-method, multi-phase participatory action research project will be comprised of a nationwide survey (Phase 1) and in-depth interviews (Phase 2). A range of community-based sampling strategies will be used to reach a diverse survey sample of 200 non-binary participants. Survey respondents will answer questions on family expectations and experiences, identities, stigma and wellbeing, providing a novel insight into the way in which these factors are interrelated in marginalised communities. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews and novel participatory methods, such as Photovoice and lifeline methods, will be conducted with 30 non-binary individuals at different ages and life stages, who will be recruited from Phase I. Interviews will explore participants’ experiences and expectations of family, including parenthood and relationships with friends, partners and pets, providing an in-depth exploration of non-binary family experiences across the life course. A community advisory board and community co-researcher will collaborate on all stages of this project, including research design, data analysis and output production, ensuring that the project’s outcomes are community-focussed and impactful. The study will have a number of novel academic and non-academic outputs. Findings will be shared via journal articles, conference presentations, a special issue on non-binary families and an end-of-project conference, bringing together academics, service providers and community members. Findings will also be disseminated via a range of arts-based resources, including infographics, illustrations and an animated video, created in collaboration with trans and non-binary artists. These resources will be shared widely and featured in an end-of-project art and research exhibition, making them available to community members and the general public alike. Outputs will be co-produced with the co-researcher and findings will be shared in informal workshops with community members, maximising the project’s community engagement. Findings will also be shared in accessible presentations with key service providers (including non-profit organisations and healthcare professionals) to increase understanding about non-binary families and share principles of best practice. Overall, the project’s innovative outputs will contribute to three key outcomes: increasing the societal representation of non-binary families, improving services provided to non-binary individuals, and advancing our methodological and theoretical approach to studying diverse genders and families. The project has the overall goal of contributing to the reduction of discrimination against non-binary identities and the improvement of health and wellbeing in non-binary communities.