The New Gender Paradox: Fragmentation and Persistence of the Binary

by Judith Lorber

Overview

Today, in Western countries, we are seeing both the fragmentation of the gender binary (the division of the social world into two and only two genders) and its persistence. Multiple genders, gender-neutral pronouns and bathrooms, X designations, and other manifestations of degendering are becoming common, and yet the two-gender structure of our social world persists. Underneath the persistence of the binary and its discriminatory norms and expectations lurks the continuance of men’s power and privilege. So there is the continued need to valorize the accomplishments of women, especially those of denigrated groups.

This succinct and thoughtful book by one of the world’s foremost sociologists of gender shines a light on both sides of this paradox – processes in the fragmentation of gender that are undermining the binary and processes in the performance of gender that reinforce the binary, and the pros and cons of each. The conclusion of the book discusses why we haven’t had a gender revolution and how degendering would go a long way in creating gender equality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781509544370
Publisher:	Polity Press
Publication date:	10/18/2021
Sold by:	JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	140
File size:	231 KB

About the Author

Judith Lorber is Professor Emerita of Sociology and Women's Studies at The Graduate School and Brooklyn College, CUNY

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1.    How gendered people, organizations, and societies are constructed

2.    Fragmentation of the gender binary

3.    Persistence of the gender binary

4.    Why haven’t we had a gender revolution?

References

Index

About the author

Editorial Reviews

The New Gender Paradox provides a blueprint of the contemporary institution of gender, identifying the ways in which it is reconstructed, showing where there are cracks in its structure, and highlighting a path toward equality. … Three decades since Lorber first used the term ‘paradox’ to describe gender, it is now more relevant than ever.”
Social Forces

“[T]his is a book that students will love for what it succeeds at doing: laying out in concise and clear language how we think about gender in feminist studies and how the fragmentation of gender in and of itself will not bring about a world without patriarchy.”
International Sociology

“Lorber gives us a much needed and clear sighted assessment of what is and is not changing about the gender binary that says there are two and only two genders, and lays out the implications for eliminating gender inequality.”
Cecilia L. Ridgeway, Stanford University

“For those interested in both the fragmentation and persistence of the gender binary, this short book is essential reading. The New Gender Paradox is engaging, thought-provoking, carefully researched, and well written. I highly recommend it!”
James W. Messerschmidt, University of Southern Maine

From the Publisher