Article 3: Gender Can Be a Continuous Variable, Not Just a Categorical One

Question 1

Masculinity vs femininity

Answer 1

Masculinity and femininity used to be considered as polar opposites of each other. The presence of masculinity is the absence of femininity and vice versa. These days they are considered to be seperate constructs of which one can possess qualities of both.

Question 2

Gender as a continuous variable

Answer 2

Gender is now considered to be continuous whereby some people show behaviour consistent with their biological gender, and others incorporate a healthy mixture of masculine and feminine traits.

Question 3

Issues with categorization of gender

Answer 3

In mental health care women are diagnosed with depression twice as much as men. Categorization of gender contributes to stereotyping that women are more depressed than men.
It can also cause screening for mental health to be different.