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Genderism, or gender binarism, is the social system or cultural belief that gender is a binary: that is, that there are, or should be, only two genders—masculine and feminine—with the aspects of one's gender inherently linked to one's genetic sex, or sex assigned at birth.
These aspects may include expectations of dressing, behavior, sexual orientation, names or pronouns, preferred restroom, or other qualities. These expectations may reinforce negative attitudes, bias, and discrimination towards people who display expressions of gender variance or nonconformity or whose gender identity is incongruent with their birth sex.
Genderism is of particular relevance to individuals who fall within the transgender spectrum, and is an ideology underlying transphobia and trans bashing. Much like how transphobia is parallel to homophobia, genderism is parallel to heterosexism, or the belief that heterosexuality is the superior or more desirable sexual orientation in comparison to homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, etc. Another related concept is heteronormativity, the notion that the masculine and feminine genders as well as heterosexual orientation are the social norm.
In the LGBT community
Within the LGBT community, genderism may create institutionalized structures of power, and individuals who identify outside of traditional gender binaries may experience discrimination and harassment within the LGBT community. Most of this discrimination stems from societal expectations of gender that are expressed in the LGBT community. But many LGBT people and many youth activist groups advocate against genderism within the LGBT community.