Sentence:  Japanese reformers speak of ‘<WSD>gender-free</WSD>' situations as the goal of reform. [...] A <WSD>gender-free</WSD> society remains a useful conceptual benchmark for thinking about change. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Which does not define people on the basis of gender; in which gender is not present, or is insignificant or irrelevant to people's lives and choices.