Undoing the dimorphic paradigm : a gender perspective

Abstract

By investigating two aspects of gender studies—the definition of gender and the denial of third-ness in the long-established gender dimorphic paradigms—the paper argues that binary gender categories need to be deconstructed. Section I examines how women have been and are being made subordinate to men. It also shows that belief systems, scientific and intellectual scholarships, and cultural norms are effective instruments for lowering women‘s status and roles. Section II, with a reader-response approach, explores how mainstream cultures have denied third-ness in a heterosexualized sex-gender dimorphism. It further claims that the reason why most cultures are firmly devoted to the binary gender categories is a fear of losing the privileges of heterosexuality. The notion of ‗self‘ and ‗other‘ which helps marginalize women in society fits conveniently into this binary system. Therefore, if the binary gender categories are deconstructed, several gender positions can become available which will eventually undo the dimorphic paradigm.