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Four Corners: Mar 2

Next week, ABC learns about growing up without a gender.

On Monday’s Four Corners, Janine Cohen’s report, “Not a Boy, Not a Girl” introduces young Australians who do not identify as either male or female

“Hi, I’m Olivia. I am non-binary which means I have no gender. I am just me.” Olivia, 11-year-old

From the moment expectant parents announce they’re having a baby the question is asked: are you having a boy or a girl?

“The world basically evolves around boxes and those two boxes are a male and a female box. And if you’re born with a female body you have to be female and if you are born with a male body you have to be a male and you’ve been put into a box.” Olivia

Not everyone grows up feeling certain. On Monday Four Corners meets young Australians who do not identify as either male or female to gain an understanding of their lives and experiences.

“It’s this really innate feeling you have for a very long time and you don’t know what to do with it because no-one’s told you what to do with it.” Audrey, 14-year-old

“Everyone wants to fit into a box. And even I want to fit myself into a box because that’s how we are raised to think. That’s how society works… So the idea of being something that wasn’t male or female was very, very difficult for everyone around me. And it’s still something I’m coming to terms with.” Riley, 22-year-old

In their own words they explain how they negotiate the world and the judgement of others.

“I think having a female body and not identifying as a woman or a girl does confuse people. But I think that if it confuses people enough that they come up and talk to me about it and learn something then that is brilliant.” Audrey

Alongside them, their parents talk about what it’s like to raise a gender-neutral child.

“As parents (we) weren’t too surprised that Olivia was on the gender spectrum. I don’t think we knew what the gender spectrum was, but we knew that Olivia was not conventional.” Olivia’s father

With forthright honesty they talk about deeply private decisions they have made about their bodies.

“No one is transitioning for the fun of it. No-one would transition because it’s a fad because it’s actually an awful experience and just generally in society you are ostracised.” Riley

“As a parent, you’re very mindful of what your kid needs. And in this case puberty blockers was something we believed Olivia needed.” Olivia’s mother

Reports of growing numbers of children identifying in this way has prompted some to claim this is a new phenomenon. But doctors and specialists working with these children see it differently.

“I get asked quite a lot about why we’re seeing so many more…I don’t think it is a new identity or a new type of being a person. I think non-binary people have existed as long as we have. But up until more recently there hasn’t been a language for it.” Child and adolescent psychiatrist

All are acutely aware that they are often judged for being different, but in this thought-provoking Four Corners, these young Australians have a question:

“I ask, what does it matter to you if I don’t identify as a boy or a girl?” Riley

Monday 2nd March at 8.30pm on ABC.

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