Binary describes something that has two parts or choices, such as on/off or true/false. In computing, binary refers to the system that uses only the digits 0 and 1.
From Latin “bini,” meaning “two together,” plus the English adjective ending “-ary.” It originally referred to things that naturally come in pairs.
Computers seem incredibly complex, but at the deepest level they only understand chains of yes/no (1/0) decisions. Everything on your screen—photos, music, videos—is just a giant, organized pile of binary choices.
“Binary” comes from mathematics and computing but has been extended to social categories, especially gender, reinforcing the idea that only two mutually exclusive genders exist. This has contributed to the erasure of non-binary and gender-diverse people.
When using “binary,” distinguish clearly between technical contexts (e.g., binary code) and social ones (e.g., gender binary). Acknowledge that gender is not strictly binary when relevant.
["two-valued (technical)","dual-category","non-binary-inclusive (when expanding categories)"]
Non-binary and gender-diverse people have challenged the assumption that gender must be binary, expanding language and categories in many fields.
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