Inclusivity without neutrality: Performing non-binarism on Instagram in Italian

Non-binary gender identities have gained increasing visibility in recent years, challenging the traditional binary gender norms that have been deeply ingrained in a large number of cultures. Overcoming gender-binary limitations in romance languages represents a challenging matter. An arena which has proved a particularly fruitful ground for self-expression is social media, which have become a prime locus where non-binary individuals can freely express their identities, and attempt to challenge traditional gender norms. Italian language is a highly gendered language, where every noun has a specific gender assigned to it. This arguably limits the possibility of describing one’s gender as completely neutral, or outside/beyond the binary. The present study aims to investigate the linguistic strategies involved in the performance of non-binary Italian creators on social media to carry out a representation of their gender identity to an audience. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of Instagram posts, this study aims to show how non-binary Italian influencers use language in order to describe and express their gender identity. The paper’s methodology uses Computer Mediated Discourse Analysis (CMDA) to analyze a corpus of Instagram posts by Italian creators that explicitly identify themselves as non-binary. By applying discourse analysis, and investigating social media as a means for gender performance, the study aims to identify the most common linguistic strategies used by non-binary Italian creators to represent their gender identity and overcome the limits Italian language inevitably imposes. In conclusion, the present paper hopes to provide a nuanced analysis of how non-binary Italian influencers challenge binary gender norms linguistically on social media.