unisex
{{Short description|Things that are suitable for either gender}}
{{confused|Intersex}}
{{For|species with only one sex|Gonochorism}}
Unisex is an adjective indicating something is not sex-specific, i.e. is suitable for any type of sex.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929150045/http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/unisex?view=uk obkaqfAskOxford: unisex][http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unisex unisex – Definitions from Dictionary.com] The term can also mean gender-blindness or gender neutrality.
The term 'unisex' was coined in the 1960s and was used fairly informally. The combining prefix uni- is from Latin unus, meaning one or single. However, 'unisex' seems to have been influenced by words such as united and universal, in which uni- takes the related sense shared. Unisex then means shared by sexes.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095930/http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwords/unisex?view=uk AskOxford: Why does 'unisex' refer to something to do with various exes, not just one sex?]
Examples
Hair stylists and beauty salons that serve all genders are often referred to as unisex.{{Cite web |title=Unisex salon break gender barrier, make sound business sense in the process |url=https://stylelifeunisexsalon.com/ |language=en}} This is also typical of other services and products that traditionally separated by sex, such as clothing shops or beauty products had traditionally separated. Public toilets are commonly sex segregated, but if that is not the case, they are referred to as unisex public toilets. Unisex clothing includes garments like T-shirts; versions of other garments may be tailored for the different fits depending on one's sex, such as jeans. The sharing of a pool or recreational facility by swimmers and others of various sexes is commonly referred to as mixed bathing. When a school admits students of various sexes, it may be called coeducational or a mixed-sex school.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-19 |title=Single Gender Schools vs Mixed Gender Schools |url=https://www.aldwickbury.org.uk/post/~board/aldwickbury-news/post/single-gender-schools-vs-mixed-gender-schools |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=aldwickbury.org.uk |language=en-GB}}
See also
{{wiktionary|unisex}}