masculineneutral

Masculineneutral is a term used in discussions of gender expression and language to describe a concept that blends masculine presentation with neutral or nonbinary attributes. The term is not universally standardized, and its meaning can vary across communities. In some discussions it denotes a personal identity position, while in others it references linguistic practices aimed at reducing gender bias.

In a gender identity context, people who describe themselves as masculine-neutral may be nonbinary or gender-nonconforming. They may present masculine traits or attire while using pronouns that are not exclusively masculine, or they may prefer pronouns that are gender-neutral. The specifics—such as which pronouns are used—depend on individual preference and community norms.

In linguistic usage, masculine-neutral approaches can involve viewing masculine grammatical forms as default or generic in a language, and advocating for neutral alternatives to reduce gender bias. Critics argue that changing established grammatical gender systems can be challenging and may not always be feasible in all languages.

Variations exist by country and language family; in some languages with strong gender marking, efforts toward neutral forms are more debated than in others. The term masculineneutral tends to appear in discussions about gender-inclusive language, nonbinary recognition, and masculine-presenting identities.

See also: gender-neutral language, nonbinary, masculine, pronouns, gender studies.