Gender Neutralization

Table Contents | |
|Contents | Page |
|Abstract ……………………… …… |…………………………………………………………1 |
|Introduction……… …… …………… |…………………………………………………………1 |
|Definition ……………………… …… |…………………………………………………………1 |
|Methodology &Data Collection …… |…………………………………………………………2 |
|Findings &Discussion ……………… |…………………………………………………………3 |
|Conclusion…………………………… |…………………………………………………………4 |
|Reference …………………………… |…………………………………………………………4 |

Female Neutralization Is More Accepted By The Public Than Male Neutralization

Abstract
Li Yuchun is popular for her neutralized coolness and handsomeness while Xiang Ding for his mextrasexual charm. Show programs like “Super Girls” and “Come on! Good Boy” have produced many neutralized stars who are leading neutralization especially in fashion. Though holding an increasingly positive attitude towards gender neutralization, the public actually have different opinions.
Key Words: neutralization female male acceptance
Introduction
On the stage, there are handsome Li Yuchun and elegant Xiang Ding. As a matter of fact, there are huge numbers of young people especially among post 80s and 90s imitating this way of dressing. Another fact is that manly dressed girls become eye-catching and popular. Boys wearing earrings are no longer regarded as negatively effeminate. Instead, they are accepted as popular metro sexual.
This study has three main aims: a. to explore the public attitudes towards gender neutralization; b. to examine whether the female neutralization is much more accepted than the male neutralization; c. to analyze the reasons for the different degrees of acceptance.
Definitions
For the purposes of this study, it is important to define “gender-neutralization”. Neutralization is actually a representation of a third temperament of both masculinity and femininity. (Pan Yunjun in China Acdemic Journal Electronic Publishing House). To be more specific, if one dresses himself without noticeable gender characteristics, wearing adornments and hairstyles which can also be worn by the opposite gender, he is then a neutralized one.

Methodology and Data Collection
Based on previous researches conducted by some professionals, it can be supposed that female neutralization is much higher accepted by the public than the male neutralization mainly concerning dressing on account of three factors: the change of social status, the influence of media, and the personal reluctance to change.
Firstly, female neutralized styling suggests that women’s social status is rising, while male neutralized styling suggests that men’s social status is descending.
Secondly, the media exposure rate of female neutralized images is higher than that of male neutralized images; in the media, images of neutralized female are more positive.
Thirdly, the traditional male image barely changes in people’s inherent conception, making people hard to accept male neutralized styling.
Based on these assumptions, the questionnaire was carefully designed. All together there were 24 questions, dealing with public attitudes towards gender-neutralized dressing of others and their better half, public images of neutralized female and neutralized male, and the images produced by the media. Some question samples are as follows:
Q4: Choose your response to men’s dressing in undershirt, multicolor, or tights etc?
A. like (喜欢) B. admire (欣赏) C .accept (接受) D. revoltive (反感) E. irksome (厌恶)
Q24: Choose your answer to the question: will you choose a neutralized one to be your spouse?
A. absolutely yes (一定会) B. maybe yes (可能会) C .no (不会) D. impossible（绝不可能）
Q15:Compare the following two men, which do you think is more powerful and efficient-working?
A. one dressing in suit.(西装打扮的男人) B. one dressing neutrualizedly（中性打扮的男人）
The questionnaires were conducted over a period of 2 weeks and they were conducted in Chinese. The participants were 325 young people, mainly university students in China, 162 male and 163 female. The extra interviewees were chosen from our friends. All agreed to participate in the research voluntarily.
Findings and Discussion
The data from the questionnaires generally shows that gender neutralization is more and more accepted by the public. However, compared with female neutralization, male neutralization is less accepted. That is, the general assumption has been proven right.
|Figure 1 |Female Neutralization |Male Neutralization |
|Female Participants | | |
|Male | | |
|Participants | | |

When asked about their attitudes towards gender neutralization, most of the participants chose “accept” though, Figure 1 above shows that, female neutralization is accepted by nearly 90 percent of male participants and circa 85 percent of female participants. That’s nearly nine-tenths participants accept female neutralization.
However, male neutralization is accepted by a relatively low 67.8 percent of male participants and a lower 55.2 percent of female participants. More obviously, 32.1 percent of male participants feel revoltive even irksome. So do a half of the female participants. That’s, male neutralization is less accepted.
Why male neutralization is not as widely accepted as female neutralization? One suggestion goes like this: female neutralization is a demonstration of an increase in social status while male neutralization is a sign of decrease in social status.
|Figure 2 |Which is more efficient-working and powerful? |
|Male |[pic] |[pic] |
|participants | | |
|Female |[pic] |[pic] |
|participants | | |

Figure 2 above indicates that people tend to trust neutralized female in work efficiency while losing confidence in neutralized male. When asked to choose a better worker from following options, all together, 211 participants chose neutralized female compared with female in skirt. But only 27 participants chose neutralized male compared with male in suits.
According to previous research of Guo Xuan (2007) in Social Scientist, female dressing neutralizedly enjoy an advantage comparing with female dressing ladily in job market. They’re considered more powerful and strong minded than the so called ladies. But, on the contrary, male dressing neutralizedly are regarded as effeminate as lady alike, lacking ambitiousness and reliableness. Since the influence of feminism, women have been always struggling to seek a higher social status. And their right of equality in society has also been conceded and bolstered by men. Therefore, their demonstration of increase in social status can be widely accepted. However, the fact is that, it’s still a patriarchal society, in which the sign of decline of men is, therefore, against the public stereotype, at least, against the men’s sense of superiority. As a result, people especially men, cannot accept male neutralization.
Another reason for the reluctance to accept male neutralization is supposed to be the different exposure by media. Neutralized female mostly turn up as a positive role on TV show, TV series and novels etc, which may lead to the wiper acceptance of female neutralization.
However, the data collected proved not. Public think neutralized male also appear as positive as fashion icons on TV, magazines, and TV series etc. There’s no noticeable difference in the influence of media. Yet, whether the public were choosing exactly according to the question or to their own opinions remains further research. Anyway, this assumption is not that convincing.
Conclusion
When gender neutralization is not directly related to oneself, most people show a high degree of acceptance. And as it’s supposed before, female neutralization enjoys a higher degree of acceptance. Compared with a man in suit, the man dressing neutrally is considered far less powerful and efficient at work. While neutralized female are considered as more reliable than ladies. The exposure by media is minor influence leading to the acceptance of female neutralization. In sum, though agreeing the images of men and women are changing, people tend to bear their reluctance to accept the change, especially change of men.

References:
Zhao Guohua(2009). Newsworld.(NO.7.) China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House.
Li Fei & Li Baoqiang(2007). Investigation and Discussion of the Female Neutralization in University.China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House.
Guo Xuan(2007).Discussion On the Female Neutralization In Employment. Social Scientist.China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House.

Female Neutralization Is More Accepted By The Public Than Male Neutralization

References: Zhao Guohua(2009). Newsworld.(NO.7.) China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House. Li Fei & Li Baoqiang(2007). Investigation and Discussion of the Female Neutralization in University.China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House. Guo Xuan(2007).Discussion On the Female Neutralization In Employment. Social Scientist.China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House. Female Neutralization Is More Accepted By The Public Than Male Neutralization