Gender System

Whether you conform, question, or buck societal notions about gender, it’s difficult to deny the existence of gender systems. These often have a deeper impact on our lives, communities, and policies than we realize.

Terminology

Here are some terms to know before diving into the topic of gender systems.

Gender System

A gender system is a societal framework where roles, identities, behaviors, rules, and expectations are applied according to gender. A gender system will often mirror historical, social, and cultural norms. This influences how people engage in gender expression and how society views them based on that.

Gender systems can and have varied across cultures and time periods. Some have focused on binary views of gender while others have included non-binary gender identities too. A gender system plays an important role in defining how a person’s individual identity is formed and how social interactions play out. They also impact legal and institutional systems.

Gender Identity

Gender identity is an individual’s deeply felt sense of their gender. Some people have a strong sense of their gender identity very early on. Others form that identity later in life. It’s also possible for gender identity to evolve over time.

Gender Roles

A gender role reflects the rules, expectations, privileges, and limitations that are placed upon people by society according to their gender assignment.

Gender Expression

This is the way that people express or perform their gender identity. This expression may take place in the form of hairstyle, clothing choices, makeup, mannerisms, or personal interests. Cultural beliefs, family tradition, and personal views can impact expression.

Biological Sex

Biological sex is a set of categories that individuals are placed in based on sex characteristics such as anatomy, chromosomes, and hormone levels. Most people fall into male or female sex categories, but some are intersex.

Gender Categories

Gender categories are linguistic and societal “boxes” in which we place words, ideas, and activities based on perceived gender. For example, in some languages words may be masculine and feminine. Likewise, we may place things in gender categories based on social rules, e.g. dolls are for girls and action figures are for boys.

Sexual Orientation

This describes the orientation of a person’s primary sexual attraction.

Gender Binary

A gender system that is based on limiting gender identity to two categories male and female.

Gender Assignment

The process of giving a person a gender identity based on their biological sex.

Gender Nonconforming

The act of rebelling against a gender system and the cultural beliefs behind that by doing things that go against gendered expectations.

Gender Difference

Any difference in identity, appearance, or behavior that does not align with the current gender system that is in place.

Socially Constructed

A social construct is anything that is established by collective, social agreement, and often based on prevailing belief systems. This is opposed to natural kinds that exist independently of individual or collective beliefs.

History

The history of gender systems showcase how different societies have developed roles and expectations based on perceived gender differences. In many early societies, gender systems were often rigid and binary with duties and roles assigned to men and women with little room for flexibility. Often, gender systems perpetuate status beliefs where one gender is given privilege over another. This usually involves favoring men while limiting women’s roles to the domestic sphere.

These binary gender systems have failed to reflect or even acknowledge the reality of gender diversity that has existed throughout history. At least in the case of Western cultural beliefs. However, many indigenous cultures have recognized the existence of more than two genders and have successfully acknowledged that human identity and social contributions are not limited to a gender binary.

However, even in societies where the existence of three genders or fluid gender identities are acknowledged, gender systems can exist that are imbalanced. Even these societies, power differences create inequalities where assigned gender roles are used to justify inequality.

Throughout history as women interact extensively in various roles they have had to contend with barriers inflicted on them by existing gender systems. These gender systems have often been formed with the goal of maintaining existing power structures while also furthering them. Historically women’s property rights, access to schooling, political participation, and even bodily autonomy have been limited by gender systems. Over time, there have been social movements that have challenged gender systems and advocated for societal structurers that reflect gender diversity and resolve power imbalances based on gender.

It’s easy to see how gender systems lead to the marginalization or erasure of transgender people or those with perceived gender differences. However, gender systems can also impact people according to sexual orientation. This is because gender systems are often founded on heteronormative social processes. They enforce rigid gender norms. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are often marginalized because they defy or are perceived to defy gender norms and gender roles.

How to Influence a Problematic Gender System

You can influence an abusive or restrictive gender system. To start, you must understand how these systems are perpetuated and maintained via everyday interactions, cultural beliefs, and structural contexts. Gender systems are social constructs where power differences are organized and justified between masculine and feminine genders. The result is perpetuating status beliefs that define males and females in socially significant ways. Often, those with gender differences are deemed even lower in the social hierarchy because people perceive gender differences as a moral failing to align with societal expectations. By understanding the intersectionality of gender status, gender difference, and social construction you can begin the process of challenging and changing these systems.

Understanding The Impacts of Gender Systems

Gender systems include processes that categorize people (most often) into masculine and feminine genders based on cultural beliefs and biological characteristics. Individuals perceive gender differences via constructed norms that assign behaviors, roles, and expectations to men and women.

These gender differences are often viewed as binary where people as seen as either female humans or male humans, and few exceptions are acknowledged. Still, the acceptance of more than one gender identity or even multiple genders being applied to an individual exists in a variety of cultures. This serves to challenge the cultural beliefs that create a binary gender framework.

Cultural construction has a strong influence on understanding on gender and how that is enacted. Gender assignment at birth frequently dictates the roles people are expected to take on throughout their lives. This assignment which is based on semantic criteria like sex assigned at birth serves to reinforce gender labels that then perpetuate status beliefs and justify inequality. For example, masculine and feminine genders are both associated with characteristics that presume general competence in different areas.

The Influence of Interaction And Power Dynamics

Daily interaction creates experiences that reinforce or challenge gender systems. Interaction impacts are very real and can either disrupt or perpetuate the status relationships that reinforce social inequality. Women interact extensively in structurally unequal relationships where power differences create relationship dynamics that favor men and disempower women. These power differences are socially significant, and are deeply embedded in the structural context of society. This impacts the way people perform and experience gender.

Peer interactions influence gender perceptions and behaviors. Because, only peer interactions can offer immediate feedback which reinforces or challenges gender norms. As women interact in these situations, they may raise important challenges to the validity of status beliefs that are based on gender. When they challenge these in their interactions, people can begin the work of dismantling abusive or restrictive gender systems.

Applied Activism in Gender Systems

A gender system can’t be changed or deconstructed without meaningful action. That begins with looking inward. You must ask yourself how the gender system you live in has served your interests. This includes examining your intersecting identities and how those have influenced your experiences. For instance, the existing gender system may have made it difficult to build community with other women to work in your best interests.

On the other hand, white women are often both oppressed and protected by these systems. Because of this, they have historically chosen to protect the very power structures that will never give them true autonomy. Deconstructing means acknowledging where you have benefitted, where you have caused harm, and where you have been harmed.

Additionally, you may hold gender biases that perpetuate status beliefs. This can be true even if you favor rights for people with gender differences or align with pro-feminist belief systems. While it’s good to be in favor of gender equality, it’s important to never use those views to dismiss valid criticisms of your own thoughts or actions.

Steps For Become an Advocate For Gender Equity

• Become educated about the problems power differences create
• Listen to those who have experienced gender in different ways
• Use peer interactions to speak out against gender stereotypes and abuses
• Share your own experience with gender inequities
• Advocate for fairness and inclusion
• Understand that people perceive gender differences in different ways – seek understanding