Male and female he created them

So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. The first chapter of the Bible locates the image of God in humanity's plurality — male and female, equally and together.

Genesis 1:26–28 is the first creation account. Male and female are both created in the divine image, both blessed, both given dominion, both commanded to be fruitful and multiply. There is no hierarchy between them in this text, no order of authority, no differentiation of role. The word adam in verse 27 is generic humanity. Whatever else scripture later says about the sexes, the opening page of the canon locates the imago Dei in humanity's plurality — male and female, equally and inseparably.