In the Western world, gender/sex is traditionally viewed as binary, with people falling into
one of two categories: male or female. This view of gender/sex has started to change,
triggering some resistance. This research investigates psychological mechanisms underlying
that resistance. Study 1 (N=489, UK) explored the role of ...
In the Western world, gender/sex is traditionally viewed as binary, with people falling into
one of two categories: male or female. This view of gender/sex has started to change,
triggering some resistance. This research investigates psychological mechanisms underlying
that resistance. Study 1 (N=489, UK) explored the role of individual gender identification in
defence of, and attempts to reinforce, the gender/sex binary. Study 2 (N=415, Sweden)
further considered the role of individual differences in need for closure. Both gender
identification and need for closure were associated with binary views of gender/sex, prejudice
against non-binary people, and opposition to the use of gender-neutral pronouns. Policies that
aim to abolish gender/sex categories, but not to policies that advocate for a third gender/sex
category, were seen as particularly unfair among people high in gender identification. These
findings are an important step in understanding the psychology of resistance to change
around binary systems of gender/sex.
