Gender is a highly discussed and debated subject within the current political climate with there being a large discussion about the prevalence and use of gender labels and pronouns. With this comes questions about how one forms their gender identity and to whom they disclose that identity to. This research aims to explore the development and understanding of nonbinary identity formation, the importance of labels, and in what instances gender is disclosed. We used semi-structured interviews with ten participants who identify as nonbinary to explore the experiences that nonbinary students have with understanding their gender and how it has been influenced by and influences their personal relationships. The majority of our participants mentioned that they don’t think gender labels should be obligatory, however, they mention that they understand others may prefer to have a label for themselves. Multiple participants also discussed that they feel most comfortable disclosing their identity to people who they feel would be understanding of their gender and who it would be safe to disclose it to. This research demonstrates how identity labels are not just an outcome, but also part of the process by which people seek validation and acceptance for their gender identity.
