Unisex

/ˈjuːnɪsɛks/ adjective

Definition

Designed to be suitable for or used by people of any gender, not specifically for men or women.

Etymology

A 20th-century coinage combining Latin 'uni-' (one) + 'sex.' The word emerged in the 1960s during the sexual revolution and women's liberation movement as clothing and fashion became less gender-specific.

Kelly Says

Unisex emerged as a real word right alongside the sexual revolution in the 1960s—it was genuinely radical to suggest that a haircut or piece of clothing shouldn't be 'for men' or 'for women,' and the word itself became a marker of social change.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Emerged 1960s–70s as gender-neutral concept, but often coded as 'unfeminine' or 'masculine-lite'; reinforces binary assumption that neutral = male default, not genuinely gender-transcendent.

Inclusive Usage

Use for genuinely form-neutral items; recognize 'unisex' still assumes binary. Prefer 'one-size' or 'universal fit' when describing inclusive design.

Inclusive Alternatives

["universal","one-size","gender-inclusive","form-neutral"]

Related Words

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