‘Not a woman, I’m non-binary’: Activist Neha Bora calls out misgendering; What is non-binary gender?

New Delhi: Neha Bora, a firebrand leader of Delhi’s Gen Z protest  movement, has sparked widespread online conversation after publicly discussing their gender identity and clarifying that they do not identify as a woman.

Addressing how they are covered in the news, Bora noted that media outlets frequently misgender them by using “she/her” pronouns. Emphasising the importance of respectful and accurate language when covering non-binary individuals, Bora stated that getting gender terminology right carries the same weight and urgency as their political demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

A research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a leader with the All India Students' Association (AISA), Bora rose to national prominence during the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. Their 23-day hunger strike was a pivotal moment in the agitation that ultimately resulted in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Since then, Bora has remained at the forefront of the capital's youth-led protests, including the ongoing campaign calling for Gyanesh Kumar to step down.

Alongside their campus and street activism, Bora commands a massive digital presence, boasting over 2.2 million (22 lakh) followers on Instagram. However, this rapid rise in visibility has generated friction within opposition circles. Reports indicate growing unease among certain fellow demonstrators, as well as pushback from a faction of Youth Congress leaders who have accused Rahul Gandhi of granting Bora disproportionate prominence within the broader movement. Prior to this, Bora also drew criticism for publicly praising the 2024 student uprising in Bangladesh.

Understanding non-binary gender identity

Traditionally, society has viewed gender through a strict binary lens -categorising people exclusively as either male or female based on the sex assigned to them at birth. Non-binary is an umbrella term used by individuals whose internal sense of gender does not fit neatly into those two traditional boxes.

Because gender is a spectrum rather than a rigid either-or choice, non-binary experiences vary widely.

Between or beyond: Some non-binary people feel they are a blend of both male and female, while others feel their gender is entirely separate from either category.

Agender or genderfluid: Some individuals do not identify with any gender at all (often termed ‘agender’), while others experience a gender identity that shifts over time (genderfluid).

Pronouns and expression: Being non-binary is about internal identity, not necessarily physical appearance. Many non-binary people use gender-neutral pronouns such as “they/them” – as opposed to “he/him” or “she/her” – to reflect who they are accurately. While non-binary falls under the broader transgender umbrella (since it differs from the sex assigned at birth), not all non-binary people personally identify as transgender.