'gender-equal' originates from the combination of 'gender' and 'equal', where 'gender' refers to the social and cultural differences between sexes, and 'equal' means having the same status, rights, or opportunities.

'gender' and 'equal' have been used separately in English for centuries, but the compound 'gender-equal' emerged in the late 20th century as discussions around gender equality became more prominent.

Initially, 'gender-equal' was used in academic and policy discussions, but it has since become a common term in everyday language to describe fairness across genders.