Chinese society more tolerant of "gender benders": survey
Chinese society more tolerant of "gender benders": survey
16:24, December 30, 2010 
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About 80 percent people said they do not discriminate against effeminate men or masculine women, according to a survey published in Thursday's China Youth Daily.
According to the newspaper's report, more than 33 percent of 2,019 respondents to an online survey said "gender benders" are "acceptable" or "very acceptable" to them.
Moreover, over 46 percent of respondents said they feel neutral about this issue. Only 20 percent said they cannot accept such people.
It is good news most people are tolerant of gender benders, the newspaper quoted Fang Gang, director of the Institute of Sexuality and Gender Studies at the Beijing Forestry University, as saying.
The survey results indicate Chinese society is becoming more open-minded and diversified, Fang said.
Most of the survey's respondents said hermaphroditic characteristics can be found in one's hairstyle, clothes, behavior and personality.
There are many elements that contribute to people having ambiguous gender characteristics, said Li Xiaowen, a psychology professor at Shanghai's East China Normal University.
China's one-child policy may be related to the phenomenon, Li added.
A girl's parents may wish her to be self-dependent in the future, and to that end make efforts to foster her aggressiveness, Li said.
On the other hand, a boy's doting parents may stop him from playing typical boys' games and sports out of fear he may be injured, Li added.
Li said the increasingly prevalent concept of sexual equality is also a reason for the gender blur.
About 67 percent of the survey's respondents said the popularity of sexually-neutral appearances is also a major reason for the trend.
Most respondents said they can accept gender bender people. But 65 percent expressed concern gender bender people may behave disorderly.
They may be more likely to have problems in their family lives, and may even bring about social problems, Li said.
Still, Fang Gang, as well as more than 28 percent of the respondents in the survey, said there is no need to fuss over the trend of society becoming increasingly inclusive.
Source:Xinhua
According to the newspaper's report, more than 33 percent of 2,019 respondents to an online survey said "gender benders" are "acceptable" or "very acceptable" to them.
Moreover, over 46 percent of respondents said they feel neutral about this issue. Only 20 percent said they cannot accept such people.
It is good news most people are tolerant of gender benders, the newspaper quoted Fang Gang, director of the Institute of Sexuality and Gender Studies at the Beijing Forestry University, as saying.
The survey results indicate Chinese society is becoming more open-minded and diversified, Fang said.
Most of the survey's respondents said hermaphroditic characteristics can be found in one's hairstyle, clothes, behavior and personality.
There are many elements that contribute to people having ambiguous gender characteristics, said Li Xiaowen, a psychology professor at Shanghai's East China Normal University.
China's one-child policy may be related to the phenomenon, Li added.
A girl's parents may wish her to be self-dependent in the future, and to that end make efforts to foster her aggressiveness, Li said.
On the other hand, a boy's doting parents may stop him from playing typical boys' games and sports out of fear he may be injured, Li added.
Li said the increasingly prevalent concept of sexual equality is also a reason for the gender blur.
About 67 percent of the survey's respondents said the popularity of sexually-neutral appearances is also a major reason for the trend.
Most respondents said they can accept gender bender people. But 65 percent expressed concern gender bender people may behave disorderly.
They may be more likely to have problems in their family lives, and may even bring about social problems, Li said.
Still, Fang Gang, as well as more than 28 percent of the respondents in the survey, said there is no need to fuss over the trend of society becoming increasingly inclusive.
Source:Xinhua
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