Gender biases that are deep-rooted in our society sometimes create problematic perceptions in the minds of people. But with the passage of time, a great emphasis has been made on ‘gender neutrality in all senses. This article in particular talks about the representation of gender-neutral phenomena in mainstream media including awards, galas, and events. The article also puts forward a few steps that we should undertake to address gender biases.
Catherine Elise Blanchett is an Australian actress, producer, and theatre director. Regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation, When asked about her perception of “gender-neutral” awards she said “I am of the generation where the word actress was used almost always in a pejorative sense. So I claim the other space- of being called an actor” This one-liner might sound simplistic to many but it poses the subtle problem that people of all genders face- being assumed by their appearances. It is important to, thus, talk about it as the everyday language used by people shows discrimination over time.
Met Gala 2021 is one of the best examples of celebrities coming forward to express gender neutrality. Consistent with the theme of the Met Gala of the year 2019 — Celebrating Camp — celebrities arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and turned a lot of eyes. The 2019 iteration of the highly-anticipated event brought out even more refreshing looks, destroying gender roles and leaving pieces of the shattered masculinity strewn across the red carpet, ignored (as they should be).
Janelle Monae’s (singer, actress, and activist) outfit featured four hats stacked on top of each other. Her dress, which appeared to be split in two, had two completely different styles — one more traditionally masculine and one accentuating her feminine side. One side was a high-neck black and white style, while the other was a bedazzled bra. The star identifies herself as pansexual and has been a supporter of the LGBTQ community. She dedicated her 2018 album "Dirty Computer," to the LGBTQ community struggling with their identity.
This year saw some fascinating costumes on magazine covers and galas ranging from Harry Styles’ lacey, frothy skirt with a double-breasted jacket for Vogue to Nikkie Tutorials paying homage to Marsha P. Johnson, an integral figure for the LGBTQ+ movement.
As trans and non-binary lives became more visible, industries, including fashion, began to tailor their brands—and more importantly their marketing—to be more “gender-neutral.” Some brands, such as River Island and Zara, subtly promoted themselves as gender-neutral. Others, like ASOS and John Lewis, boldly declared their stance by creating entire gender-neutral capsule collections or by completely restructuring the gender categories within their broader collections. But while all of this should signify steps in the right direction, how genuine are these changes really? Are these apparel brands truly capturing what it means to be “gender-neutral?”
Looking at the women’s rights movement, we can find the endorsement of the idea that the goal is to allow women access to a male-dominated space without making any significant changes to that space. The gender neutrality movement is one that believes in fair and equal opportunity for all individuals and hinders the conventional gender stereotypes in each class, workspace, and society itself. Therefore, if you too want to join the movement and express faith in the gender neutrality movement so here are the few ways to promote it:
Quit using Binary Words: Develop a new way of talking by quitting the use of binary words such as mankind, use humankind instead. This will gradually but effectively help in the restructuring of the rigid mindsets of people about genders. The everyday language that we use plays a very crucial role in shaping society as a whole. We should understand that everything is beyond the binary of male or female. We should not assume anyone’s gender just by their appearance, we should respectfully ask a person about their gender and pronoun preferences and then begin the conversation.
Education Promoting Gender Neutrality: It is very crucial for us to understand that if we are envisioning a gender-neutral society that is not biased, but fluid, then we need to begin that kind of education from elementary levels. We need to educate the small children about the various non-binary genders and nurture them in a way to make them understand that nothing is binary or restricted within the walls of gender or sex.
Equal Pay for Equal Work: Similarly, we must, as individuals, also be aware and active and must demand equal pay for the same wages without being told anything otherwise. Not only that, but the availability of equal opportunity for all is the motto and we must keep it in mind to wear it on our sleeves to promote gender positivity and neutrality.
Advocating Gender Neutrality, not as Marketing Strategy: Upon first glance, various brands appear to be spearheading change by doing away with a binary system that is truly discriminatory towards gender-nonconforming people and, in turn, providing a safe and supportive space for trans and non-binary folks to shop. A deeper look, however, reveals that most of these brands are merely reinforcing gender norms. As trans and non-binary lives became more visible, industries, including fashion, began to tailor their brands—and more importantly their marketing—to be more “gender-neutral.” Some big brands, such as River Island and Zara, subtly promoted themselves as gender-neutral. Others, like ASOS and John Lewis, boldly declared their stance by creating entire gender-neutral collections. These brands are being widely promoted across the globe. It leaves a huge message for the customers and may help to break down the stereotypes. This develops courage among trans and non-binary people and provides them a safe and supportive space to purchase. However, these brands are merely reinforcing gender norms.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2020/07/08/how-to-use-gender-neutral-language-and-why-its-important-to-try/?sh=392c7be726ba
About the Author:
Parul is currently pursuing a bachelor of commerce (program) from Daulat Ram College. She likes writing and reading about feminists who want to change people's mindsets. She loves to write early in the morning especially on weekends with a sip of coffee which give a fresh start to her day.
This was so engaging and fun to read!!! 💕💕