We then began to see one’s gender as a continuum, a blending, analogous to a “gray scale.” But, our distribution of gender was still bimodal, that is, most people are lumped at the two ends, with only a minority in the middle. The great majority would be either male or female with all that implies.
But, my review of current research and experience with gender dysphoric, gay and traditional clients has led me to see gender not as a bimodal male or female dichotomy but as a matrix—a possible mix of male and female development within the same individual. From research and observation, I have developed a list of five semi-independent attributes of gender, as a map to help you to understand this complex often hotly emotional issue of gender. Consider sexual identity/behaviour (gender) springing from five semi-independent attributes: