Today in Western countries we are seeing both the fragmentation of the gender binary (the
division of the social world into two and only two genders) and its persistence. Multiple
genders gender-neutral pronouns and bathrooms X designations and other manifestations of
degendering are becoming common and yet the two-gender structure of our social world persists.
Underneath the persistence of the binary and its discriminatory norms and expectations lurks
the continuance of men's power and privilege. So there is the continued need to valorize the
accomplishments of women especially those of denigrated groups. This succinct and thoughtful
book by one of the world's foremost sociologists of gender shines a light on both sides of this
paradox - processes in the fragmentation of gender that are undermining the binary and
processes in the performance of gender that reinforce the binary and the pros and cons of
each. The conclusion of the book discusses why we haven't had a gender revolution and how
degendering would go a long way in creating gender equality.
