Why LGBT+ people say gender roles are a social construct and they aren’t important while at the same time they give so much importance to gender role at the point they want to be perceived as what they biologically aren’t?
Why LGBT+ people say gender roles are a social construct and they aren’t important while at the same time they give so much importance to gender role at the point they want to be perceived as what they biologically aren’t?
But what even is a “gender expression” if not linked to sex? Why not just call it a personality trait?
Let’s call it a personality trait for a moment, do you think much would change?
It happens to be a ‘personality trait’ that others routinely address you by, and set expectations by, and which might grate if it doesn’t match up with your experience of yourself.
Gender theory investigates the subtlety of what’s going on when people are referred to as “he” or “she” in society. It is not just about what genitals or sex characteristics a person has. It goes far beyond that to your social role, and expected behaviours.
Society has a whole ton of expectations and presumptions towards a “she” and similarly towards a “he” that aren’t biologically grounded. Those things shift about through history and vary by culture. That’s what people mean by “socially constructed”.
Gender queer people would like to be addressed by the social category they internally line up with. Call that a personality trait if you like but it’s such a major one - affecting how people perceive your other personality traits - that it’s in a category of its own.