The Cost of Gender: Why Patriarchal Economies Defend the Binary

The persistence of binary gender systems is deeply tied to how states allocate resources and preserve power, rather than solely being a cultural or ideological conflict. Recognizing gender diversity requires investment in administrative, legal, and infrastructural changes, which many states are reluctant to bear due to economic convenience. This economic anxiety was evident in discussions about recognizing a third gender, where concerns about costs and increased state provisions were raised.