binarism
Either-or framework only
Binarism is the tendency to divide things into two opposing categories—good and evil, male and female, us and them.
The term usually carries a critical edge, suggesting such divisions oversimplify reality: The binarism of traditional gender roles ignores the spectrum of human experience.
In linguistics, binarism refers to the analysis of language through paired oppositions.
Philosophy of opposed pairs
- twofoldConsisting of two parts
- either-orPresenting two alternatives
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- polarityState of opposing forces
duality · opposition · contrast · black-white · yes-no · on-off · true-false · all-or-nothing
Of x-y coordinate geometry
- essentialismDoctrine of fixed natures
- structuralismAnalysis through underlying systems
- poststructuralismPhilosophy questioning stable meaning
- deconstructionAnalysis exposing self-contradiction
metaphysics · ontology · dialectics · Hegelian · reductionism · mind-body · subject-object
Pretend two-choice situation
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- erasureAct of wiping away
marginalization · spectrum · continuum · nuance · complexity · fluidity · multiplicity · intersectionality
Of both genders
- cisgenderBirth-sex-identified
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
- intersexAtypical sex development
heteronormativity · two-spirit · biological sex · social construct · Butler · gender roles · dimorphism
Small amount or portion
- booleanTrue-or-false valued
- true-falseExam with binary responses
- on-offHaving two states only
- digitalOf discrete data
switch · logic gate · machine code · encoding · two-state
dualism
Philosophy of opposed pairs
- twofoldConsisting of two parts
- either-orPresenting two alternatives
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
polarity · duality · opposition · contrast · black-white · yes-no · on-off · true-false · all-or-nothing · splitting
Cartesian
Of x-y coordinate geometry
- essentialismDoctrine of fixed natures
- structuralismAnalysis through underlying systems
- poststructuralismPhilosophy questioning stable meaning
deconstruction · metaphysics · ontology · dialectics · Hegelian · reductionism · mind-body · subject-object
false dichotomy
Pretend two-choice situation
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
erasure · marginalization · spectrum · continuum · nuance · complexity · fluidity · multiplicity · intersectionality · hierarchy
male-female
Of both genders
- cisgenderBirth-sex-identified
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
intersex · heteronormativity · two-spirit · biological sex · social construct · Butler · gender roles · dimorphism
bit
Small amount or portion
- booleanTrue-or-false valued
- true-falseExam with binary responses
- on-offHaving two states only
digital · switch · logic gate · machine code · encoding · two-state
binarismspectrum
Continuous range of values
continuum · gradation · gradient · multiplicity · pluralism
binarismnon-dualism
Doctrine of ultimate unity
fluidity · intersectionality · post-structuralism · deconstruction · queering