Man, Woman, Or Other? Gender Is No Longer A Binary System

It is socially expected to either identify as either a man or a woman-- or at least that's how it used to be. Recently, society has been more open to other categorizations of gender. There are other options besides just man or woman to choose from that are publicly recognized.

1. Gender is a socially constructed concept.

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Gender identities is based on what society deems it to be. We come up with these labels based on what traits we associate with biological sexes. Since most people biologically fit into two main categories, male or female, society has tried to fit people into two gender categories, man or woman, as well. However, we see that gender changes depending on what culture you are a part of and changed throughout history. “Gender varies dramatically across societies and throughout human history.” Social scientist have done studies that show that gender is considered something people experience rather than something they actively do. Often we see "culturally dominant normalizations" of gender. There are many different approaches to thinking about different issues of gender and sex.

Simonds, Candice, and Paula Brush. "Gender." Encyclopedia of Social Theory. 2005. 305-308. Print.

2. New categorizations of gender identity are continuously being added to our language.

For the most part people are labeled as a man or a woman. Even if they are not biologically a male or a female, people identify as what category they feel they should be put in based on the traits and associations society has made. In "Naming all the Parts" these associations are called cues and they vary from physical cues to behavioral cues to mythic cues. These "cues" determine what gender identification you are. It is no longer simply man or woman. You can be categorized as a man, woman, butch, femme, transwoman, transman, etc.

Gender identity is being recognized more and more in society. Attention is being brought to the need for more than a binary system. An article in the Washington Post speaks on one person's issue with the binary system of identification.

Bornstein, Kate. "Naming All the Parts." Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us. New York: Routledge, 1994. Print.

3. Media outlets are starting to use multiple gender-identities besides male and female.

Facebook now offers over 50 gender-identities for its users to choose from. More outlets are recognizing genders from outside the binary system. Workplace environments mostly recognize the gender binaries and the LGBT community but now attention is being brought to genders who do not fit within the binary. A comprehensive list of the new Facebook gender options and what they mean can be found at http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/15/the-complete-glossary-of-facebook-s-51-gender-options.html. Countries such as Australia and the UK allow an X to be written on legal documents instead of an M or F for the person's gender. Some states in the United States do not include gender identifiers on legal documents which favors the decreased use in the gender binary system.

Hrubos, Natalie. "Non-Binary Gender Identities In The Workplace." Mondaq Business Briefing 21 May 2014. General OneFile. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA368857696&v=2.1&u=gain40375&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&asid=71d879ecaf2e29bfeaaeb1bc41553c7e

4. Increased presence of the LGBT community on college campuses has brought campus change.

One major challenge on college campuses is the use of bathrooms. Many transgendered and non-binary gender identified people feel uncomfortable using male or female restrooms. Recently more campuses have been introducing gender-free restrooms. This allows anyone to use them and all students to feel comfortable with themselves. The growing acceptance of non-binary gender identified students has been making changes in campus life and culture. Here is a list of 30 of the nation's most LGBT friendly college campuses: http://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-colleges-for-lgbt-students/

Agans, L. J. (2007). Beyond the Binary: Gender, Identity, and Change at Brandeis University. (Undetermined). College Student Affairs Journal, 26(2), 201-207

5. The mythical norm is still a myth.

Many people have felt the pressure of a "mythical norm." This norm is typically defined as "white, thin, male, young, heterosexual, christian, and financially secure" (Lorde p.116). Although here Lorde is talking about gender equality, not gender identity, her teachings are applicable. For years there has been the "norm" of being either a man or a woman without another option. Just like the movement towards gender equality, gender identity has become a well known issue and is not seen as deviant anymore. Just how today there is no longer a "mythical norm" to be a heterosexual, white male gender identities are more open in society. Gender identity sensitivity is also becoming a concern. Research studies are working on becoming more sensitive to gender identities outside of the binary (Bauerand Wayne). This is a big step in society and shows that the "mythical norm" is no longer a societal norm.

Bauer, Greta R., and Linda D. Wayne. "Cultural Sensitivity and Research Involving Sexual Minorities." Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health: 45-47. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. .

Anzaldua, Gloria. "Towards a New Consciousness." Borderlands: The New Mestiza. Print.

6. The notion of what "gender" actually is is changing.

Today the definition of "gender" and its connection with identity are slightly blurred. Whether gender is something a person experiences, decides, or is placed on them is undetermined. A recent study on the role of gender on people who do and do not conform to the gender binary showed that gender is becoming more and more something that is experienced by a person. This study alone was able to identify nine gender identities based on sex, gender site, and sexual orientation. Clearly a binary system no longer works in our society. The researchers posit that "[gender] must be continually socially reconstructed, in light of normative conceptions of men and women which vary across time, cultures, contexts, ethnic groups and social situations" (Fontanella, Maretti, Sarra). Gender identities, as this study points out, are multidimensional and complex. They can no longer be divided into a binary system.

Fontanella, Lara, Mara Maretti, and Annalina Sarra. "Gender Fluidity Across the World: A Multilevel Item Response Theory Approach." Quality & Quantity 48.5 (2014): 2553-68.