There’s so much diversity in the natural world! By creating handprint butterflies together, you and your child can explore the topic of non-binary animals, specifically chimera butterflies with asymmetrical wings that can’t be labeled as either male or female. This activity can be a springboard for talking about gender identity, gender expression, and individual uniqueness with your child.
(Note: This activity is most easily done with two people working together, though a single person can also do it by painting each of their hands with a different design. If you don’t have paint, trace your handprints with washable markers, pens, crayons, or colored pencils, then decorate inside the outlines.)
Some butterflies have asymmetrical wings, which are different on each side. Some have symmetrical wings, which are exactly the same size and appearance on both sides. Asymmetrically-winged butterflies are called chimera [ky-mee-ra] butterflies. Chimera animals are both male and female, and usually one side of their body has male traits while the other side has female traits. A chimera butterfly is an example of an animal that’s non-binary – it isn’t categorized as just male or female, but something different altogether. (Binary means relating to just two things, rather than many.)
Though a bit different, the word non-binary can apply to humans, too. A person who is non-binary (or gender non-conforming) may identify themselves as someone who doesn’t fall into the culturally traditional male or female category, or the traditional boy or girl category. This article, “Understanding Non-Binary People: How to Be Respectful and Supportive” from transequality.org is helpful: “Some societies – like ours – tend to recognize just two genders, male and female. The idea that there are only two genders is sometimes called a ‘gender binary.’ ‘Non-binary’ is one term people use to describe genders that don’t fall into one of these two categories.”
Learn more about human gender identity and how to talk to your preschooler about gender.
In past Pride Month celebrations at Habitot, we’ve created butterflies in the Art Studio to symbolize the transformation trans folx and others in the LGBTQ+ community might experience when coming into their identity. In talking with the community, we’ve learned that the “caterpillar transforming into a butterfly” metaphor might not represent everyone’s experience. Our friend, who’s non-binary, explained it well: “A lot of trans folx would say something more like: they always were/always knew they were a dog (for example), but people kept telling them that they were a cat, because maybe they looked like a cat.”
