THE GENDER BINARY IS A BIG LIE

In this historical and cross-cultural exploration of gender, Wind invites readers to expand their understanding beyond the oppressive limits of the gender binary.

Humans love to categorize, but just as different cultures have trained people to see varying numbers of bands of colors in a rainbow (three in ancient Greece, five in ancient China, seven in modern America), gender is more complex than a simple binary. Beginning with this apt analogy, the information-packed introduction clarifies key terminology, offers scientific explanations to distinguish sex from gender, compares frameworks for understanding gender, and prepares readers for a reflective journey through time and around the globe. The chapters that follow discuss the experiences and cultural contexts of diverse groups of people (and some individuals), including eunuchs, hijras, and māhū, among others. Throughout, Wind points out the recurring impact of European influence, but he delves deeper into the topic in the chapter entitled “The Colonization of Gender.” Another recurring theme is the harmful conflation of gender and sex, a topic explored further in a chapter focused on intersex activism. The conclusion emphasizes that everyone benefits from liberation from the gender binary. In bubbles in the margins, Wind inserts additional commentary, helpful explanations, and definitions. The conversational tone keeps the text engaging. Questions at the end of each chapter promote active learning through self-reflection, and the extensive source notes are an open door to further inquiry.

An accessible, thorough, curiosity-provoking introduction to gender.