Gender binary

The gender binary is a model of gender that classifies all people into one of two genders. In terms of gender identity, the two binary options are man and woman (or for children, boy and girl). In terms of gender expression, the two binary options are masculine and feminine.

Under the binary model, gender is seen as a rigid binary option, like one or zero. There may be no more than two genders; there are no 'shades of grey' between the two, one may only be one or other option, not both, neither or something between the two.

Individuals whose gender is something other than man or woman, masculine or feminine, do not fit within this gender binary and may identify as non-binary, genderqueer or transgender. The gender binary makes problems for non-binary people in the forms of oppression and discrimination such as binarism and non-binary erasure.