2020 Gender Odyssey

Western society relies on a binary system of gender in which there were are two distinct options – male and female – each carrying discrete stereotypes and meanings. Care has been around transitioning from one to the other, but increasing numbers are identifying outside traditional gender norms. How do we understand the gender binary, heteronormativity, nontraditional genders, and the impact of the categorization of identity?

This workshop covers an overview of the history of transgender care, including binary and nonbinary gender identity and terminology, identity versus expression, and various motivations why an individual might explore nonbinary identity. Finally, it will offer a trans-positive and client-centered perspective on gender and the social forces involved in the categorization of gender.