Editing Sexism (section)

=== Oppositional sexism ===

Oppositional sexism is a term coined by [[Transfeminism|transfeminist]] author [[Julia Serano]], who defined oppositional sexism as "the belief that male and female are rigid, mutually exclusive categories".<ref name="Serano 2007">{{Cite book |title=Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity |last=Serano |first=Julia |author-link=Julia Serano |publisher=[[Seal Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-786-74791-7 |location=Emeryville, CA}}</ref> Oppositional sexism plays a vital role in a number of [[social norm]]s, such as [[cisnormativity]] and [[heteronormativity]].

Oppositional sexism normalizes masculine expression in males and feminine expression in females while simultaneously demonizing femininity in males and masculinity in females. This concept plays a crucial role in supporting [[cissexism]], the social norm that views cisgender people as both natural and privileged as opposed to transgender people.<ref name="Pedersen 2015">{{Cite book |title=Counseling Across Cultures |publisher=SAGE Publications |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4522-1752-9 |location=United States of America |edition=7th |editor2-first=Walter |editor-last=Pedersen |editor-first=Paul |editor2-last=Lonner |editor3-last=Draguns |editor3-first=Juris |editor4-last=Trimble |editor4-first=Joseph |editor5-last=Scharrón-del Río |editor5-first=María}}</ref>

The idea of having two, opposite genders is tied to sexuality through what [[Gender studies|gender theorist]] [[Judith Butler]] calls a "compulsory practice of heterosexuality".<ref name="Pedersen 2015" /> Because oppositional sexism is tied to heteronormativity in this way, non-heterosexuals are seen as breaking gender norms.<ref name="Pedersen 2015" />

The concept of opposite genders sets a "dangerous precedent", according to Serano, where "if men are big then women must be small; and if men are strong then women must be weak".<ref name="Serano 2007" /> The [[gender binary]] and oppositional norms work together to support "traditional sexism", the belief that femininity is inferior to and serves masculinity.<ref name="Pedersen 2015" />

Serano states that oppositional sexism works in tandem with "traditional sexism". This ensures that "those who are masculine have power over those who are feminine, and that only those that are born male will be seen as authentically masculine."<ref name="Serano 2007" />