Gender neutrality

A purple circle is a symbol for gender neutrality, derived from the two gender symbols and colours mixed together and without the distinguishing cross or arrow used in the gender symbols. ♂ ♀

Gender neutrality (adjective form: gender-neutral) also known as Gender-neutralism or the Gender neutrality movement describes the idea that policies, language, and other social institutions should avoid distinguishing roles by what reproductive organs people happen to have, in order to avoid discrimination arising from the impression that there are social roles for which one gender is more suited than the other.

In policy

Proponents of gender neutrality may support public policies designed to eliminate gender distinctions, such as favouring same-sex marriage on the belief that society should not limit the roles of husband or wife based on gender.^{[citation needed]} Other views may include support of gender-neutral bathrooms, with public restrooms being available without distinguishing the gender of the person using them. It has been observed that gender neutrality in the law has changed the nature of custody disputes, making it more likely that men will be awarded custody of their children in the event of a divorce.

The legal definition of gender has been a controversial topic particularly to transgender people; in some countries in order to be legally defined as a new sex people must first undergo sterilisation.

Biological grey areas in gender

Main article: Intersex

Main article: Sex and gender distinction

An issue related to gender neutrality is the grey areas that exist in gender. Trying to legally define the boundaries of gender has proven a difficult issue with the existence of intersex, third gender and transgender.

Gender blindness

Main article: Gender-blind

Someone who identifies as gender blind takes the perspective of gender neutrality in every day life. Similar to pansexuality where the person is not necessarily totally gender blind but in their sexual preference they make no distinction between male and female sexual partners.

Gender-neutral language

Main article: Gender neutral language

Gender-neutral language, gender-inclusive language, inclusive language, or gender neutrality is linguistic prescriptivism that aims to eliminate (or neutralize) reference to gender in terms that describe people. For example, the words fireman, stewardess, and, arguably, chairman, are gender-specific; the corresponding gender-neutral terms are firefighter, flight attendant and chairperson (or chair). The pronoun he may be replaced with he or she, s/he, or they when the gender of the person referred to is unknown. Other gender-specific terms, such as actor and actress may be replaced by the originally male term (actor used for either gender). "Gender-neutral language" should not be confused with genderless language, which refers to languages without grammatical gender.

Gender-neutral language can involve promoting the end of gender-specific job titles such as stewardess and policeman in favour of terms that do not convey gender such as flight attendant and police officer. Some also advocate for a gender-neutral pronoun to be used even when the sex of a person is known, in an effort to remove the alleged subconscious effects of language in reinforcing gender and gender stereotypes.

Relationship to feminism and masculism

Gender neutrality emphasises the equal treatment of men and women legally with no discrimination whatsoever. This goal is shared with many feminists and masculists. However in gender neutralism there is the emphasis on transcending the perspective of gender altogether rather than focusing on the rights of specific genders.

Relationship to transhumanism

Main article: Postgenderism

Gender neutrality or "gender transcendence" is part of the transhumanist concept of postgenderism.

Advocates of postgenderism argue that the presence of gender roles, social stratification, and cogno-physical disparities and differences are generally to the detriment of individuals and society. Given the radical potential for advanced assistive reproductive options, postgenderists believe that sex for reproductive purposes will either become obsolete, or that all post-gendered humans will have the ability, if they so choose, to both carry a pregnancy to term and father a child, which, postgenderists believe, would have the effect of eliminating the need for definite genders in such a society.

In marketing

Marketing is often focused on targeting specific demographics and creates products focused on specific genders. Public views on gender-specific marketing have gained media attention in recent years, for example a protest against a bic pen "Bic for her" that was targeted towards women by the posting of thousands of fake reviews of the pen mocking its female-specific advertising.

In the marketing of children's toys, gender-specific marketing has been very prevalent, however popularity of making toy advertising gender neutral has been increasing such as ads showing boys playing with baby dolls (a toy that has commonly been marketed towards girls only in the past).

In education

Some schools focus on promoting gender neutrality within the classroom. Teachers are asked to refer to students without the use of gender pronouns, referring to them by their first names only or in the case of Sweden using the gender neutral pronoun "Hen". Other attempts to encourage gender neutrality in schools has been to not separate toys in gender specific areas, and not to have gender specific sports in physical education lessons.

Campaigns

The National Student Genderblind Campaign

In 2006 the National Student Genderblind Campaign was created as a collaborative grassroots organization intended to educate college students, administrators, and others throughout the United States. The NSGC advocates for the implementation of gender-inclusive dorm room and bathroom options.

See also

• Gender-blind
• Pansexuality
• Epicenity
• Unisex
• Androgyny
• Unisex public toilet

Further reading

• Bojarska, Katarzyna (2012). "Responding to lexical stimuli with gender associations: A Cognitive–Cultural Model". Journal of Language and Social Psychology. doi:10.1177/0261927X12463008.