Reality
One very straightforward binary of identity that relates to reality is that of identity that you are born with, versus that which you develop yourself. Many can and do call this a natural identity; gender, race, and sexual orientation are often referred to as natural and choosing one of these identities that you were not born with is often considered unnatural. Often this use of the word natural is really just another way of saying traditional. These traditional identities of white, heterosexual, male/female not only constrict the number or types of identities that are possible, but also lend a certain element of hierarchy to them: male>female, hetero->homo-sexual, white>everyone else. The traditions of these identities and hierarchies are thanks to many generations of power imbalance.
Binaries limit the fluidity that these identities are capable of, per person and over time. Gender is an important identity to define through reality because it is the realm where hard science and individuality either agree or very much disagree. These days, to accept gender/identity fluidity is a liberal perspective, but in practice these binaries are still very much present, particularly in what defines and demonstrates “woman/man hood.” Even in accepting transgender-ness, gender binaries suggest that in order to transition, one must constrain them-self the gender norms and physical attributes of that gender (Siebler 2012). This encourages hormone use, surgery, and many other challenges to transitioning into a different gender. Even when transitioning or identifying as neither male or female, the identity is still in contrast to this binary. This is most obviously seen in surveys, where there is often a segment with options of either male, female, or other. In this example, fluidity of identity does not necessarily break free from the binaries of accepted gender identity. There is still an assumption that one of the two “options” will be chosen, even if it is not their “natural” gender.
Gendering in environmentalism can often be found in the lifestyles of those considered environmentalists. Classic environmental lifestyles often tailored to men: connecting with nature as powerful, lumberjacks as representative of man dominating nature, in which nature is gendered female. The more contemporary lifestyle of environmental is often gendered female: ideals accompanied by yoga, mason jars, home-made lifestyles (reminiscent of the traditional role of women in the kitchen). As with most identities, these binaries have limited the ways in which discourse and action around the environment are tailored. Even within environmentalism, the power dynamics between gender binaries are evident. Contemporary lifestyles and methods of change are often mocked as ineffective and too spiritual – too much femininity.