Androcentrism

Androcentrism refers to a way of thinking and organizing society in which men, especially endosex cis men, are treated as the standard, norm, or supposedly universal point of reference. The experiences, bodies, needs, and perspectives of other genders are then framed as deviations, special cases, or less important.

Androcentrism is a central feature of patriarchal structures. It appears, for example, in language, research, medicine, the workplace, media, politics, and sexuality when male experiences are presented as “neutral” or “generally human,” while women, intersex, trans, and non-binary people are named separately or treated as secondary.

In sexual contexts, androcentrism can become visible when male desire, erection, penetration, or orgasm are treated as the center of sexuality and other forms of desire, embodiment, and sexual experience are taken less seriously. A non-androcentric perspective consciously asks about different experiences and avoids assuming a male norm as self-evident.