androcentric

Androcentric refers to a viewpoint, theory, or practice that centers on male experiences and treats male norms as default or universal. The term derives from Greek andros, meaning "man," and kentron, meaning "center," and is used across disciplines such as sociology, philosophy, anthropology, and gender studies to describe biases that privilege men or male perspectives.

In scholarship and institutions, androcentrism can manifest as assuming male bodies and experiences as standard, leading to research designs, language, and policies that overlook or minimize female or nonbinary experiences. Historically, many studies in medicine and other fields prioritized male subjects and generalized findings to all people; language and cultural practices have also often centered male viewpoints, shaping social expectations and institutional structures.

Critics argue that androcentrism contributes to unequal outcomes and distortions in knowledge. Some view it as a descriptive label for bias in need of countervailing methods, while others caution that overemphasizing the term could essentialize gender or reinforce a binary framework. Proponents of inclusive research, feminist theory, and critical pedagogy advocate reducing androcentric bias through diverse samples, equitable representation, and reflexive analysis.

See also: gynocentrism, male bias, feminism, gender studies.