gender normative

adjective

variants or gender-normative

: adhering to or reinforcing ideal standards of masculinity or femininity

Before the uprisings in Syria women were highly educated. However, the gender positioning affected their involvement in political and professional life. Gender normative behaviours were retained and therefore there was a lack of power and agency for women in society.

—Lorraine Charles and Kate Denman, The Journal of International Women's Studies, 15 Dec. 2013

In 2007, the top-selling image of fatherhood globally was an image of a man playing football with his son. You can't get any more gender-normative than that. Whereas our top-selling image of a father this year, so far, is a man with his daughter sitting and reading together.

—Pam Grossman, quoted in Adweek, 11 June 2015

gender normativity noun

None of us has grown up in a genderless culture. In fact, we have grown up in one replete with gender stereotyping and demands for gender normativity, with all the biases that go with that.

—Diane Ehrensaft, Gender Born, Gender Made, 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!