Social Constructionism applied to gender is the postmodern theory that the gender of a person is determined by culture and life experiences, and not by biology. And further, that the ultimate arbiter of one’s gender is the person themselves, their subjective sense. A lecturer of Transgender Studies at University of Toronto states that “science” for the past 50 years has “proven” that there are no biological differences between men and women. If that’s true, then why do Transgender people take hormones to aid in their transition? His/her contention is absurd.
Further, it is noted that most Transgender people simply want to be called by the pronouns “she” or “he”. However, there’s a very small number of self-identified “non-binary” (i.e., neither male nor female) people who have created their own gender categories (via intersectionality) with accompanying pronouns such as “zie”, “zim”, “zir”, “sie”, “sie”, “hir”, “ey”, “em”, “eir”, “ve”, “ver”, “vis”, etc. They state that these pronouns define their identity, and demand that others use these pronouns when addressing them. In fact, in some jurisdictions such as Ontario in Canada and New York State, to refuse to use these desired pronouns is a criminal offense, resulting in a substantial fine, as much as $250,000.
Note that there’s apparently no limit on new categories, including for example non-human categories sometimes referred to as “otherkins”: people who self-identify as animals, elves, fairies, etc. Note that objectivity and rationality won’t work to dispel this nonsense, because “objectivity” and “rationality” are code words for oppression to the postmodern social justice warriors; they claim that it’s just another power game.
The social constructionist theory of gender actually has been put to the test via a significant series of studies done in Scandinavia, where over several decades there has been stringent egalitarianism within the culture relative to career choices for men and women (i.e., no legal barriers to career choices or advancement within a profession). With no cultural or legal barriers to education or hiring based on gender, then biology becomes the determining factor in career choice. Yet today in Scandinavia female nurses outnumber male nurses 19 to 1, and male engineers outnumber female by the same ratio.
Critique: The Scandinavian studies as well as actual objectivity and rationality devastates the social constructionist theory of gender; it’s biology, pure and simple. Additionally, the subjective sense of one’s gender does not define a person’s true identity; human identity is a much more complex issue. And the non-binary Transgender penchant for unique pronouns is unworkable in society, and an unhealthy obsession. One’s gender in society should be based upon anatomy, regardless of subjective feelings.