Psychological mechanisms underlying the opposition to gender diversity

In modern Western countries, gender has traditionally been viewed as binary and as following directly from biological sex, despite the fact that transgender women and nonbinary people have existed throughout history and across a range of cultures. In recent years, these views have started to change among experts and the general public alike. At the same time, there is vocal opposition to these changes across many different countries (e.g. the US and Eastern Europe), often aimed at gender minorities (i.e., transgender and nonbinary people). Interestingly, opposition comes from a range of groups that otherwise seem to have little in common; for example some religious groups arguing that these changes threaten traditional family values and some feminist groups arguing that gender fluid practices endanger women’s safety and gender equality.