Defending the Sex/Gender Binary: The Role of Gender Identification and Need for Closure

Both gender identification and need for closure were associated with binary gender/sex views, prejudice toward non-binary people, and opposition to gender-neutral pronouns. De-gendering policies were seen as more unfair than multi-gendering policies among people with strong gender-identification. 

Study 1

• The control policy was viewed as less unfair than both the de-gendering policy (M=3.62, SD=1.62, p < .001) and the multi-gendering policy (M=3.67, SD=1.70, p < .001). 
  • There was no statistically significant difference between de-gendering policies and multi-gendering policies in terms of unfairness.
•  Gender identification was positively associated with gender/sex essentialism (the belief that women and men are two distinct, natural groups) and ideologies that maintain the gender/sex binary, but not with gender/sex stereotyping or prejudice toward non-binary people. 
• Gender/sex essentialism and binary views were positively associated with prejudice against non-binary people.

Study 2

• The control law was viewed as less unfair than both the de-gendering law (M=3.95, SD=2.08, p < .001) and the multi-gendering law (M=4.13, SD=2.11, p<.001). 
  • There was no statistically significant difference between de-gendering policies and multi-gendering policies in terms of unfairness.
  • Gender identification was positively associated with perceived unfairness of the de-gendering proposal.
• Both gender identification and need for closure were positively associated with binary gender/sex views and prejudice against non-binary people. 
• Gender identification was negatively associated with support for gender-neutral pronouns. 
• Need for closure was positively associated with prejudice against non-binary people and negatively associated with support for gender-neutral pronouns.
• Binary gender/sex views were positively associated with opposition to gender-neutral pronouns and prejudice against non-binary people. 

These results provide insight into the psychology of opposition to changing views of gender. The implications of these results have the potential to shape policies intended to support more diverse expressions of gender/sex.

In Study 1, 489 heterosexual British men and women were recruited through an online recruitment website. Participants first indicated their gender/sex and completed a measure of gender/sex identity centrality. They were then randomly assigned to read a fictitious article describing one of three hypothetical policies implemented by a well-known clothing retail company: 1) a de-gendering policy removing gender/sex labels and store sections, 2) a multi-gendering policy introducing a non-binary label and store section, or 3) a control policy regarding the company's spring and summer collection. Afterwards, participants answered questions including measures of perceived unfairness of the policy, binary views of gender, gender essentialism, gender-stereotyping, and prejudice toward non-binary people. "Gender essentialism" refers to the belief that women and men are two distinct, natural groups.

In Study 2, 415 heterosexual Swedish men and women were recruited through a polling firm. Participants first indicated their gender/sex and completed a measure of gender/sex identity centrality. They then were completed an assessment of their need for closure. Participants were then randomly assigned to read a fictitious article describing one of three hypothetical laws regarding children's clothing: 1) a de-gendering law making it illegal to sell clothing in separate sections for girls and boys or to sell clothing explicitly targeting girls or boys, 2) a multi-gendering law requiring the addition of a non-binary section in all children's clothing stores, and 3) a control proposal regarding stronger regulation of chemicals in children's clothing. Afterwards, participants answered questions including measures of perceived unfairness of the law, binary views of gender/sex, prejudice toward non-binary people, and views on the gender-neutral pronoun used in Swedish, hen.