Gender binary
The gender binary, also known as gender binarism, is a framework suggesting that gender can only be categorized as male or female, typically aligned with the biological sex assigned at birth. Within this system, societal expectations dictate that males exhibit masculine traits and females embody feminine ones. This binary perspective does not account for the experiences of individuals outside these classifications, such as transgender and nonbinary/genderqueer people, who may not identify with the gender corresponding to their assigned sex at birth. Intersex individuals, born with variations in sex anatomy that do not fit typical definitions of male or female, further challenge the binary concept.
Gender identity, which refers to one’s internal understanding of their gender, can be fluid and may evolve over time. This contrasts with gender expression, the external manifestation of gender through behavior, clothing, and pronouns. Traditional societal norms often reinforce specific gender roles from a young age, but many people do not conform to these expectations. In essence, the gender binary system is increasingly critiqued for its limitations, prompting a broader recognition of diverse gender identities and expressions beyond the male-female dichotomy.
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Gender binary
Gender binary, also called gender binarism, is a social classification in which people believe that gender can only be identified as male or female. The system states that people are the biological sex they are assigned at birth and should follow gender-defined societal roles. Males are expected to possess masculine qualities, while women should be feminine. People who support the idea of gender binarism generally do not consider other genders, including transgender males and females and nonbinary/genderqueer individuals.
Overview
The concept of gender binary is based on the notion that a person's gender is determined at birth by the presence of male or female reproductive organs and sex anatomy. However, not all people are born with defined genitalia that can be classified as either male or female. Some people are born with both types, while others have ambiguous genitalia. These are known as intersex people. For intersex individuals, a sex is determined for them at birth that may or may not match their gender identity as they mature. This is one reason why some people believe that gender is not always just one sex or the other and oppose the idea of gender binary.
Some people believe that genders exist outside of the two traditionally defined roles. Transgender individuals do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. Nonbinary/genderqueer individuals identify with being a combination of both male and female, or they do not fully conform to either sex. In addition, gender identity can be fluid and change over time for some individuals.
Gender identity and gender expression differ from sexual orientation, which refers to a person's emotional, physical (sexual), and romantic attraction to another person. Gender identity is an individual's internal personal sense of whom he or she is. With gender binary, gender identity is the sex assigned to a person at birth. This is also known as cisgender.
Gender expression is the way people present themselves as masculine, feminine, both, or neither to the outside world. They use dress, hairstyles, behavior, and more to show gender. People can also use the pronouns they call themselves as part of their gender expression. For example, some nonbinary/genderqueer individuals use the pronouns they or them instead of feminine or masculine pronouns such as she, her, he, or him.
Gender expression typically is ingrained in people from a young age, as they are taught accepted gender roles and social norms. For example, girls are told that they should wear pink and play with dolls, while boys should wear blue and play with trucks. However, not all girls want to play with dolls, and some boys may prefer to wear girls' clothes. This does not change a person's gender identity.
People usually express the gender with which they identify, even if this differs from the gender binary. For example, a person born a male at birth who identifies as a woman, also called a transgender individual, may dress, speak, and behave as a woman. Transgender people may also alter their physical appearance by taking hormones or undergoing sexual reassignment surgery so they can express themselves more like the gender with which they identify.
Bibliography
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