The binary gender system is the accepted notion in the society which labels gender as two different and opposite forms i.e. men and women. The system makes it easier to understand how society works as it assigns the identity to both males and females where males are supposed to be masculine and females feminine. It also establishes the roles in the society and creates a ‘normal’ society in which a woman does housework, takes care of the family and the man is the breadwinner of the family. Although the system looks very simple and good but there are many limitations of the system as it ignores the complexity and diversity of the sex and gender. This paper examines the threats and difficulties which a binary gender system poses to the society
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A woman should come across a soft spoken, feminine whereas a man should be masculine. However, every individual carries his/her own personality and behaviour inclusive of his/her gender. As West and Zimmerman suggests, that gender is not a social role, but is an individual arena based upon daily interactions and behaviours (West and Zimmerman 94). Hence, a person should not be forced to behave in a certain way. Moreover, the binary system forms separate roles for women and men in the society; so, when someone tries to perform a role of the opposite gender it is seen as exceptional and is not easily accepted like working moms and stay at home dads. So, the binary gender system requires individuals to behave in a socially accepted way as according to their gender and not in a way that they …show more content…
This belief system binds us into a limited space from where we cannot see the complexity and diversity of genders and gender roles. As sterling gives the great example of Maria Patino, who was restrained from taking part in Olympics because her body did not fit into the biological definition of a woman (Sterling 126). This reminds us that we are part of a society that only values individuals if they fit into one of the two genders and ignores sexual minorities. The system views gender as already defined, set social system where everyone should remain and behave in the system and ignores the personal view of
A woman should come across a soft spoken, feminine whereas a man should be masculine. However, every individual carries his/her own personality and behaviour inclusive of his/her gender. As West and Zimmerman suggests, that gender is not a social role, but is an individual arena based upon daily interactions and behaviours (West and Zimmerman 94). Hence, a person should not be forced to behave in a certain way. Moreover, the binary system forms separate roles for women and men in the society; so, when someone tries to perform a role of the opposite gender it is seen as exceptional and is not easily accepted like working moms and stay at home dads. So, the binary gender system requires individuals to behave in a socially accepted way as according to their gender and not in a way that they …show more content…
This belief system binds us into a limited space from where we cannot see the complexity and diversity of genders and gender roles. As sterling gives the great example of Maria Patino, who was restrained from taking part in Olympics because her body did not fit into the biological definition of a woman (Sterling 126). This reminds us that we are part of a society that only values individuals if they fit into one of the two genders and ignores sexual minorities. The system views gender as already defined, set social system where everyone should remain and behave in the system and ignores the personal view of