Florence Ashley, “‘X’ Why? Gender Markers and Non-Binary Transgender People” in Isabel C. Jaramillo Sierra and Laura Carlson (eds.), Trans Rights and Wrongs: A Comparative Study of Legal Reform Concerning Trans Persons, Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law Series, Springer, 33–48

Jurisdictions increasingly recognize ‘X’ as a legal gender marker alongside ‘M’ and ‘F’, offering an alternative to those whose gender identity falls outside or in excess of the man/woman dichotomy. This chapter explores the justifications and limitations of ‘X’ as a gender marker, arguing that it does not place non-binary people on an equal footing to men and women since it serves as a single, catch-all option for a wide range of non-binary identities. The chapter the explores the possibility of expanding the availability of gender markers to reflect the full diversity of non-binary people but suggests that it would be rejected as absurd due to the ongoing role of gender markers in preserving cisnormativity. It concludes that abandoning gender markers may be the only fully inclusive option. For gender liberation to come within reach, we must imagine a future without gender markers.

(Link to paper)