W.E.B. DuBois’s theory of double consciousness is the mental conflict among the marginalized bodies, stemming from a need and desire on the part of that group to find its place in a greater society that defines it through the dominant, systematic, culture. Although DuBois’s theory was born into the context of race, particularly in the black experience, it is also understood when applied in discussions of gender, especially transgender and non-binary individuals.
Double consciousness in a gender context means a kind of self-aware battle inside oneself regarding identification either with one’s true self or identification with societal gender norms. Many individuals who don’t fit neatly into traditional gender categories often participate in this sort of divided awareness where they can feel alienated within societal contexts. The first provides the internal sense of self, an understanding of gender that might not fit into either of the traditional understandings of “man” or “woman.” There is the outside perception imposed by society and more often than not fostering a demand for binary expectation. This has created a constant internal struggle between self-perception and the perception brought about by society-a duality of awareness again.
The double consciousness of non-binary and transgender bodies manifests in the way that they navigate public spaces and interactions. They may take on mannerisms in ways that best align with the structure and expectations of where they are yet stay eminently aware of their own personal sense of authenticity. It’s like hiding in plan site. This might create a case where a person would have to bargain constantly between visibility versus safety and validation versus alienation. This reflects the tension between living a truth that feels right and validating internally and all the while they are living amidst judgment or hostility from a society enforcing binary gender norms.
This is extended into the conception of self-worth and legitimacy that such internalized representations take on. In a way similar to how DuBois understood the struggle of black folks in coming to terms with the devalued black identity within broader society steeped in whiteness, so, too, must non-binary and transgender individuals confront the cultural narratives that delegitimize and/or invalidate a part of their identity.