Gender binary: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Classification of sex and gender into two opposite forms}}

{{hatnote group|{{Redirect|Binarism|3=Binary (disambiguation)}}{{About|gender from a sociological perspective|further information|Sex and gender distinction|Discrimination based on gender|GenderismGender (disambiguation){{!}}Genderismdiscrimination|the movement rooted in discrimination based on gender and gender theory|Anti-gender movement}}

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[[File:Sexsacks.jpg|thumb|alt=Opaque grab bags labeled "girls" and "boys" |The gender binary in everyday life]]

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The '''gender binary''' (also known as '''gender binarism''')<ref name="Garber1997">{{cite book |author=Marjorie Garber |title=Vested Interests: Cross-dressing and Cultural Anxiety |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rCzYJisHWHAC |access-date=18 September 2012 |date=25 November 1997 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-91951-7 |pages=2, 10, 14–16, 47}}</ref><ref name="Card1994">{{cite book |author=Claudia Card |title=Adventures in Lesbian Philosophy |title-link=Adventures in Lesbian Philosophy |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-253-20899-6 |page=the [https://archive.org/details/adventuresinlesb00card/page/127 127]}}</ref><ref name="Rosenblum2000">{{cite journal |author=Rosenblum, Darren |year=2000 |title='Trapped' in Sing-Sing: Transgendered Prisoners Caught in the Gender Binarism |journal=Michigan Journal of Gender & Law |volume=6 |ssrn=897562}}</ref> is the classification of gender into two distinct forms of [[masculine]] and [[feminine]], whether by [[social system]], [[Culture|cultural]] [[belief]], or both simultaneously.{{efn-ua |In this context the word "binary" often functions as a [[noun]], unlike several [[Binary (disambiguation)|other uses of the word]], where it is an [[adjective]].}} Most cultures use a gender binary, having two genders ([[boys]]/[[men]] and [[girls]]/[[women]]).<ref name="Nadal-re-binary">Kevin L. Nadal, ''The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender'' (2017, {{ISBN|978-1-4833-8427-6}}), page 401: "Most cultures currently construct their societies based on the understanding of gender binary—the two gender categorizations (male and female). Such societies divide their population based on biological sex assigned to individuals at birth to begin the process of gender socialization."</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sigelman |first1=Carol K. |last2=Rider |first2=Elizabeth A. |title=Life-Span Human Development |date=14 March 2017 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-337-51606-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M2M1DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA385 |access-date=4 August 2021 |language=en |page=385}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Maddux |first1=James E. |last2=Winstead |first2=Barbara A. |title=Psychopathology: Foundations for a Contemporary Understanding |date=11 July 2019 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-64787-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-ChDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1028 |access-date=4 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

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=== Education ===

The gender binary is introduced unconsciously at a young age, often within familial and school settings. For example, those considered to be girls are expected to be emotional, affectionate, talk excessively, complain more than average, and be picky about their surroundings and appearances, while boys are expected to be cruel, dominant, and act as a leader in group settings.<ref name="deMayo-2022">deMayo, Benjamin, et al. "Endorsement of Gender Stereotypes in Gender Diverse and Cisgender Adolescents and Their Parents." ''PLoS ONE'', vol. 17, no. 6, June 2022, pp. 1–16. ''EBSCOhost'', {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0269784|doi-access=free}}</ref> These characteristic while stereotypes, can be encouraged and influenced through objects like toys (e.g. baby dolls introducing maternal and domestic labor) but also in schools. Girls are often expected to excel in English classes, while boys are expected to succeed in P.E. and STEM courses.<ref name="deMayo-2022" /> Early childhood stereotypes like boys being better at math than girls have been linked to the disproportionately small number of women pursuing math related careers, and a general disengagement from math related courses in education.<ref name="Block-2022">Block, Katharina, et al. "Exposure to Stereotype-Relevant Stories Shapes Children's Implicit Gender Stereotypes." ''PLoS ONE'', vol. 17, no. 8, Aug. 2022, pp. 1–18. ''EBSCOhost'', {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0271396|doi-access=free}}.</ref> There has been an increase in publishing children books targeted at girls to encourage more participation in STEM fields and to dismantle gendered stereotypes taught to children by popular media.<ref name="Block-2022" />

=== Religion ===

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==See also==

{{Portal|LGBTQ}}

* {{annotated link|Androgyny}}

{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|

* [[{{annotated link|Anti-gender movement]]}}

* [[Androgyny]]

* [[{{annotated link|Butch and femme]]}}

* [[Anti-gender movement]]

* [[{{annotated link|Dyad (sociology)]]|Dyad}}

* [[Butch and femme]]

* {{annotated link|Effeminacy}}

* [[Dyad (sociology)]]

* {{annotated link|Endosex}}

* [[Effeminacy]]

* [[{{annotated link|Complementarianism]]}}

* [[Endosex]]

* {{annotated link|Gender dysphoria}}

* [[Complementarianism]]

* {{annotated link|Gender essentialism}}

* [[Discrimination against non-binary people]]

* [[{{annotated link|Gender dysphoria]]in Bugis society}}

* [[{{annotated link|Gender essentialism]]polarization}}

* [[{{annotated link|Gender in Bugis society]]policing}}

* [[{{annotated link|Postgenderism]]}}

* [[Gender polarization]]

* [[{{annotated link|Sexual inversion (sexology)]]|Sexual inversion}}

* [[Gender policing]]

* [[Heteronormativity]]

* [[Heterosexism]]

* [[Postgenderism]]

* [[Queer heterosexuality]]

* [[Sex–gender distinction]]

* [[Sexual inversion (sexology)]]

* [[Social construction of gender]]

* [[Violence against LGBTQ people]]

* [[Violence against transgender people]]

}}

==Notes==

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==Further reading==

* binaohan, b. ''decolonizing trans/gender 101.'' biyuti publishing, 2014. {{ISBN|978-0-9937935-1-6}}

* ''GenderQueer: Voices from Beyond the Sexual Binary'' (Alyson), ([[Joan Nestle]], Clair Howell Co-Editors) 2002 {{ISBN|978-1-55583-730-3}}

* {{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2012/09/pregnant-males-and-pseudopenises-complex-sex-in-the-animal-kingdom/ |title=Pregnant males and pseudopenises: complex sex in the animal kingdom |date=9 September 2012 |publisher=[[Ars Technica]]}}