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Gender Neutrality Matters: A Look At The Benefits For Everyone

October 23, 2022

5 min read

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Author : United We Care
Gender Neutrality Matters: A Look At The Benefits For Everyone

Gender neutrality is a concept that attempts to remove the notion of being either male or female from a person or entity. It also encourages people, regardless of their sexual orientation, to feel equally accepted as part of society. 
But why do we need a gender-neutral society? 
How can such a society affect us? 
Keep reading to find the answers to these questions and more.

What Is Gender Neutrality?

Gender neutrality is a neutral presentation of gender that does not distinguish between men and women. We can also use it to describe a neutral action towards all people. 
The concept of gender neutrality has been around for many years. It was first used in an academic context by philosopher Michel Foucault in his 1976 book The History of Sexuality. It has gained momentum over recent years as more and more people begin to realise its importance for equality in society.

Gender-Neutral Language

Perhaps a vital step toward gender neutrality is using neutral language or not being biased towards or against either gender. 
Language plays a vital role in creating safe spaces, and Gender-neutral language avoids using nouns or pronouns associated with any particular gender. Since there is an increase in the number of people identifying as transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender-queer, we are witnessing a gradual normalisation of gender-neutral pronouns.
With gender neutrality, it is easier for non-binary people to feel included in society by using gender-neutral languages, such as people instead of men or women.

Why is Gender Neutrality Important?

Gender neutrality is important because it helps eliminate gender stereotypes that harm everyone. The term “gender” refers to socially constructed roles and behaviours of men, women, and all gender-diverse people. 
Gender stereotypes are those expectations based on the assumption that there are only two genders (male and female) in the world. It leads to discrimination against not only men and women but also individuals who do not conform to these identities.
Gender neutrality allows children to grow up without societal pressure to adhere to gendered norms. Children should be allowed to explore genders early to become comfortable with themselves when they reach adulthood.

What are the Benefits of Gender Neutrality?

The benefits of gender neutrality are numerous. We can point to historical examples of gender-neutral societies (most famously Sweden) and claim that gender neutrality works well in those cases.

1. Gender neutrality also allows people to feel comfortable being who they are without being judged by others who may assume they are not authentic. It is especially true for those who do not confine their gender identity to a binary and change it over time. Such individuals might not feel confident about expressing their true selves due to fear of being mocked or, even worse, rejected by society. 

2. It can help improve mental health for those struggling with depression or anxiety and feeling threatened by society’s expectations. The expectation of how to behave based on gender expression or sexual orientation puts undue pressure on such individuals. 

3. Gender neutrality is important because it allows people from all walks of life to communicate and relate to one another on equal terms.

4. People can express themselves without being discriminated against, rather than being forced into stereotypical roles.

5. Furthermore, it helps create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. An individual who identifies as non-binary or transgender does not have to worry about what others might think about them or their identity. 

By removing bias in our everyday interactions, we can work together towards a better world for everyone everywhere!

Read more -Gender Discrimination
Gender Neutrality

How Can We Achieve Gender Neutrality?

Gender neutrality is the idea that gender distinctions are unnecessary and potentially harmful to how we think about and treat people. We can sum it up: “You don’t need to be male or female.”  
Today gender neutrality is also about avoiding gender-specific language in writing, speech, and other forms of communication. There are several different ways to achieve gender neutrality as well. 

  • Avoid using male and female pronouns when referring to people. For example, instead of saying “he” or “she,” use “they.”
  • Avoid using he/him/his pronouns when referring to a group of people unless it’s an all-male group. For example, if you’re talking about your friends, you can say “we” or “us” instead of simply saying “men.”
  • If you’re an organisation that wants to achieve gender neutrality, then provide training on dealing with different types of diversity, including L.G.B.T.Q issues, so that all employees can understand this concept.
  • Organisations can install all-inclusive bathrooms that allow anyone who wants access to them regardless of gender identity or expression. 
  • Companies need to make their hiring processes more inclusive and encourage more people from the LGBTQ+ community to join them. It would increase their representation in the workspace, thus further encouraging gender-neutral norms. 

Conclusion

In a nutshell, gender neutrality is the condition in which there is no difference between how a person is regarded as male or female. It is a way of thinking about gender that rejects any essentialist ideas about what it means to be male or female.
Furthermore, gender neutrality also means we look at what people do rather than their biological sex, and it signifies we treat people as individuals, not as group members. 
To sum up, gender neutrality is a concept that applies to many different aspects of life, and it is a way to make things more inclusive, fair, and equal. Therefore, it is essential for us today to promote gender neutrality in all aspects of our lives.

References
[1] P. H. Smith and E. T. Bamberger, “Gender Inclusivity is Not Gender Neutrality,” J. Hum. Last., vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 441–443, 2021.
[2] S. L. Archer and A. S. Waterman, “Psychological individualism: Gender differences or gender neutrality?,Hum. Dev., vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 65–81, 1988.
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Author : United We Care

Founded in 2020, United We Care (UWC) is providing mental health and wellness services at a global level, UWC utilizes its team of dedicated and focused professionals with expertise in mental healthcare, to solve 2 essential missing components in the market, sustained user engagement and program efficacy/outcomes.

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