Why gender neutrality is a huge step in the right direction

This week it was announced that all-girls private schools in Britain will avoid calling their pupils “girls” and will instead use more gender neutral language such as “pupils” or “students.”

Last week it was decided that schools around the country will implement a gender neutral uniform policy.

Both of these actions show that Britain is making progress in acknowledging other gender identities.

Gender neutrality has had a bigger platform in 2016 than ever before. It’s not only schools that are making the changes. There have been campaigns across universities for gender neutral bathrooms.

In the media, Jaden Smith has been wearing skirts, and looking amazing in them. In international news, this week the US recognised non-binary as a gender for the first time.

While many of these changes are relatively small, they show a shift in attitude towards gender: it’s the ideas behind these schemes that are important. Many members of the transgender community face much more dangerous issues than where to go to the bathroom, but the fact that we are discussing gender neutrality in everyday life is a step in the right direction.

However, there is still a lot of stigma around gender neutrality. It confuses a lot of people and this means that there is opposition from people who don’t fully understand what it means. This is unsurprising, as from birth we are defined by our gender; as either male or female.

If we are female everything is pink and we play with dolls. If we are male everything is blue and we play with cars. Thus, growing up, many activities still fit into stereotypically male or female boxes and gender becomes a huge part of our identity. Gender neutrality helps to break down dated gender stereotypes.

Gender should not be the most defining part of ourselves. Women should be able to act masculine and men should be able to act feminine without causing anger and shock.

There are some that argue that more choice in schools means that children have to choose their gender identity at a much younger age. However, it has been proven that children are aware of their gender from as young as 4-years old, so gender neutral initiatives in schools are essential in ensuring that children questioning their gender are comfortable.

This fluidity doesn’t mean we’re moving towards a genderless world, which is neither realistic nor desirable, but it does allows for people to express themselves more authentically.

Society is evolving slowly to be more accepting, but many decisions surrounding gender neutral clothes and bathrooms are still hugely controversial. Fashion and art have always stretched gender norms to make a statement but it will still be a long time before society accepts boys in skirts anywhere other than on the runway, despite Jaden Smith showing the world how good it looks.

The discussion of gender neutrality has helped to educate people about gender. A new outlook on gender and gender stereotypes is needed. It seems excessive at times that so much of what we do is dictated by gender constructs.

The principle behind gender neutrality is freedom of choice. The goal is not to scrap the gender binary of male and female completely, but to offer the choice to be more true to yourself. With greater acceptance we can move towards a safer and happier world. However, we are not there yet.

There is still a lack of education about gender. A lot of people have been angered by gender neutral initiatives, but surely repressive gender stereotypes and restricted personal freedom should be angering us more?

It’s going to be a while before men can confidently head to the pub wearing a skirt without anyone batting an eyelid, but education is key. Gender neutral initiatives in schools are going to shape the future whilst their opponents will be left behind.