What does it mean to move beyond the gender binary for Alok?

Alok sees moving beyond the gender binary as an ability to see beyond a person’s gender or what they are able to see. What matters more is how a person feels and displays it in their daily lives. Alok also discusses how gender preconceptions and expectations are restricting, limiting, and how harmful it is. Like many others, Alok struggled with self-hatred and shame for years before they found peace and acceptance with themselves because they couldn’t conform to the expected binary. The transgender community is more questioned and gets more looks on the streets than other groups because they are questioned more frequently. “Gender non-conforming people face considerable distress not because we have a disorder, but because of stigma and discrimination. There is nothing wrong with us, what is wrong is a world that punishes us for not being normatively masculine or feminine.” 

In what ways does your gender identity go against the binary norm and in what ways does it fit the binary norm?

I grew up in a different environment and people so my knowledge about the non-binary people or community was limited. When I came to this country and I saw a man wearing makeup or a dress I was so confused because I was not used to seeing that. All I know is the binary people like myself and the people I grew up with. After reading this book it makes me think how the non-binary people feel when I pronounce them wrong. and it made me realize that there is no way that I could ever imagine the amount of pain that non-gender conforming individuals experience on a daily basis. I am a female  and I like to be called her and she. i am really feel comfortable about it.