The gender binary is a form of oppression that is enforced by medical doctors, governments, educators and anyone who benefits from it (a gendered society is easier to control). Trans and nonbinary gender labels exist to communicate a certain difference from the enforced status quo.

To say that labels should not be enforced is something many people (especially trans people) would agree with. Sometimes people get the impression that it’s trans people who decide these labels and also enforce them by simply existing. That is false. The labels are enforced by those who enforce the binary gender system. Enforced gender (and gender labels) can only ever be abolished once the binary gender system is abolished.

Also, gender isn’t necessarily bad. It’s only ever bad if it’s enforced without consent. Anyone who would like to describe themselves as woman or man or cis or trans should be free to do so. But it should never be forced upon anyone to choose a label.