Genderism
Definition
Genderism is a term for beliefs that treat gender as rigid—usually binary and inherently linked to sex assigned at birth—or for opposition to traditional gender roles and the idea that gender is distinct from sex. It can also refer to discrimination or claims that one gender is superior.
Quick Facts
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What does genderism mean?
In sexuality and gender discussions, genderism commonly describes the belief that there are only two genders and that a person’s gender is inevitably tied to the sex assigned at birth. This usage treats gender as fixed and binary and can reinforce negative attitudes toward gender nonconformity.
The term is also used for opposition to traditional gender roles, or for the belief that gender exists separately from sex. In some contexts, “gender ideology” is used as a catch-all for issues such as transgender rights and feminism that genderism opposes. This sense is often derogatory.
Genderism and gender discrimination
Genderism can also mean the belief that one gender is superior to another, or discrimination based on gender. In that sense, it is comparable to sexism.