Gender Conformity

[Page 629]Conformity refers to the level of change in behavior or thinking based on pressure, real or perceived, from another person, a group, or society. Levels of conformity can range from lower levels to higher levels with a variety of reasons for conforming or not conforming to the pressure. With regard to gender, gender roles oftentimes subconsciously dictate conformity; people may make decisions based on the pressure to behave according to their assigned birth sex or gender. This entry introduces the topic of conformity as it relates to gender by establishing why people join groups, reviewing perspectives of conformity, discussing the extremes of conformity, and concluding with information on the evolution of gender conformity.