How To Be A Pluralist About Gender Categories

Jenkins, K. (2022) How To Be A Pluralist About Gender Categories. In: Halwani, R., Held, J. M., McKeever, N. and Soble, A. (eds.) The Philosophy of Sex: Contemporary Readings. 8th Edition. Rowman & Littlefield: Lanham, Maryland, pp. 233-259. ISBN 9781538155363

Abstract

To investigate the metaphysics of gender categories—categories like “woman,” “genderqueer,” and “man”—is to ask questions about what gender categories are and how they exist. This chapter offers a pluralist account of the metaphysics of gender categories, according to which there are several different varieties of gender categories. I begin by giving a brief overview of some feminist accounts of the metaphysics of gender categories and illustrating how certain moral and political considerations have been in play in these discussions as constraints on acceptable accounts of gender categories. I then present my pluralist account of gender categories and highlight some of its virtues. Finally, I assess how my pluralist account fares relative to the moral and political considerations identified earlier in the chapter. I argue that although the account does not fare well, we should in fact revise our understanding of what those considerations are and how they should constrain our accounts of gender categories. I then show that, on this revised understanding, my pluralist account emerges as a viable position.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jenkins, Dr Katharine
• Authors: Jenkins, K.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• ISBN: 9781538155363
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
• First Published: First published in The Philosophy of Sex: Contemporary Readings. 8th Edition: 233-259
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy