genderism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal, Academic, Social-Political
Quick answer
What does “genderism” mean?
Discrimination or prejudice based on a person's gender, especially against women.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Discrimination or prejudice based on a person's gender, especially against women; also, the belief that gender is a binary and fixed construct.
Can refer to systemic bias favoring one gender, or the ideological assertion that traditional gender roles are natural and immutable. In some contexts, it specifically critiques the gender binary (male/female) as excluding non-binary and transgender identities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is used in both varieties, primarily in academic and activist circles.
Connotations
In both regions, it's a critical term with negative connotations, used to label and challenge discriminatory beliefs or systems.
Frequency
Equally low in general usage, but slightly more frequent in US academic publications due to the prominence of gender studies programmes.
Grammar
How to Use “genderism” in a Sentence
The article exposes the genderism inherent in the policy.Activists are campaigning against genderism in the workplace.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “genderism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy was criticised for effectively genderising roles in a regressive way.
American English
- The new guidelines aim to degenderise the language used in official forms.
adverb
British English
- The roles were divided genderistically, with men taking all leadership positions.
American English
- The system operates genderistically, privileging male-coded behaviours.
adjective
British English
- Her research focuses on genderist attitudes in classical literature.
American English
- The report highlighted several genderist assumptions in the curriculum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used in diversity training to discuss biased hiring or promotion practices.
Academic
Common in sociology, gender studies, and critical theory texts analyzing power structures related to gender.
Everyday
Very rare. Used primarily by individuals engaged in social justice discussions.
Technical
Used in legal or policy contexts when drafting anti-discrimination statutes or guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “genderism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “genderism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “genderism”
- Using 'genderism' to mean simply 'the concept of gender' (incorrect).
- Confusing it exclusively with 'sexism against women'; it can have a wider application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sexism typically refers specifically to discrimination based on sex, often against women. Genderism can encompass this but may also refer to discrimination or prejudice based on a person's gender identity, non-conformity to gender roles, or the enforcement of a strict gender binary.
No, it is a specialised term used primarily in academic, activist, and formal policy contexts. The more common term for discrimination against women is 'sexism'.
Theoretically yes, if a system or ideology discriminates against people for being men or not conforming to masculine norms, but in practice, the term is most often used to describe systems (like patriarchy) that privilege men while also punishing gender non-conformity.
Not directly. The related actions are often described with phrases like 'to discriminate on the basis of gender'. However, verbs like 'genderise' (to assign gender attributes) or 'degenderise' are occasionally used in academic writing.
Discrimination or prejudice based on a person's gender, especially against women.
Genderism is usually formal, academic, social-political in register.
Genderism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdʒendərɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdʒendərˌɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GENDER + ISM (like racism or sexism) = a prejudiced belief system about gender.
Conceptual Metaphor
GENDERISM IS A BARRIER / GENDERISM IS A BIASED LENS
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'genderism' MOST appropriately used?