Editing Gender neutrality (section)

==In policy==
Proponents of gender neutrality may support public policies designed to eliminate gender distinctions. Gender neutrality in the law has changed the nature of custody disputes, making it more likely that men will be awarded custody of their children in the event of a divorce.<ref>[[Regina Graycar]], Jenny Morgan, ''The Hidden Gender of Law'' (2002), p. 260.</ref>

The legal definition of gender has been a controversial topic to [[transgender]] people; in some countries, in order to be legally defined as a new gender, people must first undergo [[sex reassignment surgery]] resulting in [[Sterilization (medicine)|sterilization]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Nicole Pasulka |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/02/most-european-countries-force-sterilization-transgender-people-map |title=17 European Countries Force Transgender Sterilization (Map) |magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |access-date=29 December 2013}}</ref>

[[California]] joined [[Oregon]] in its effort to recognize gender neutrality. On 15 October 2017, California governor [[Jerry Brown]] signed new legislation into law that allows persons the option to select gender-neutral on state identification cards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/california-to-add-gender-neutral-option-on-state-drivers-licenses/|title=California to add gender-neutral option on state driver's licenses|date=17 October 2017|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref> On 9 October 2021, governor [[Gavin Newsom]] signed [[California Assembly Bill 1084 (2021)|California Assembly Bill 1084]] requiring many [[department store]]s in California to maintain a gender neutral children's section.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Phyllis H. |date=October 18, 2021 |title=New California Legislation will Require Some Retailers to Adopt Gender Neutral Children's Sections by 2024 |url=https://www.natlawreview.com/article/new-california-legislation-will-require-some-retailers-to-adopt-gender-neutral |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=[[The National Law Review]] |language=en}}</ref>

Legal frameworks for determining parentage have traditionally relied on gendered concepts, but these approaches face challenges as family structures diversify. Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, courts and legislatures have had to reconsider how parentage rules apply when they cannot rely on traditional gender-based assumptions. This has prompted exploration of alternative bases for legal parentage, including intention, function, and agreement rather than solely biology or marriage.<ref>Joanna L. Grossman, Parentage Without Gender, 17 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 717 (2016)</ref>

Studies show that workplace leave policies using terms like "maternity leave" and "paternity leave" create problems for parents who don't fit traditional gender categories. Research by Holroyd and Cull found that many people feel forced to accept incorrect gender labels just to access their rightful benefits. According to their research, it makes more sense to just use phrases like "parental leave" or "family leave" for everyone. While businesses may continue to collect volunteer gender data to address any prejudice, this simple move helps all parents feel valued. The strategy broadens the scope of policies while continuing to work for equitable treatment for all parents. <ref>{{Citation |last=Holroyd |first=Jules |title=Gender-Neutrality and Family Leave Policies |date=2024-05-22 |work=The Oxford Handbook of Applied Philosophy of Language |pages=364–387 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192844118.013.39 |access-date=2025-04-20 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-284411-8 |last2=Cull |first2=Matthew J.}}</ref>