Non-binary people's experiences in Scotland: evidence review

Young Adults

Much of the existing research and evidence identified in this report focuses on the experiences of people aged between 16-35 which should be considered when reading this report.

The Scottish Census 2022^[22] shows there is a large proportion of non-binary people in the ‘under 35’ age category, which may be the main driver for more research focusing on the experiences of younger non-binary people. For example, the most recent study by Scottish Trans^[23] demonstrates that 58% of their respondents are under the age of 34. Further research is required into the experiences of non-binary people aged under 16 and over the age of 35.

Two reports by LGBT Youth Scotland^[24],^[25] highlighted an increase in the number of people accessing their services who identified as non-binary, or as a gender identity other than man or woman. In the 2017 report, 16% of the 684 respondents to their nationwide survey identified as non-binary, and in the 2022 report, this number increased, to 30% of the 1279 respondents. LGBT Youth Scotland noted that not all participants who identified as non-binary responded “yes” to the question, “Do you identify, or have you ever identified as trans?” but these non-binary participants were included in trans figures to highlight differences between cis-gender participants and those who were not cis-gender. This may obscure the extent to which there are differences between trans people and those who identify as non-binary.

A study^[26] of 251 adolescents (12-18 year olds) recruited through the UK’s National Gender Identity Development Service^[v] found 11% of these respondents identified as non-binary. Although this study is based in England, it is useful for highlighting some key issues facing young people experiencing gender. The questionnaire-based study found that the most important factor for helping adolescents understand what they were experiencing in terms of their gender was the media, with 35% identifying the importance of social media and 21% suggesting that TV and documentaries had helped them to gather information^[27]. It must be noted here that the participants did not suggest that accessing media created gender dysphoria, rather it helped them to access more information about what they were already experiencing^[28]. This study also highlighted that young people found support from friends and family and being able to speak to other trans people were important supporting factors for respondents to understand how they experienced gender. More up to date research based in Scotland, about how young people experience gender, including support from friends and family, would be beneficial.

This chapter has highlighted that much of the existing evidence about non-binary people focuses on young people. It would be beneficial to have more data to understand the experiences of people in wider age ranges, particularly non-binary people under the age of 16 and above the age of 35. This information will be important to ensure service provision can meet the specific needs across the non-binary population.