What Is Gender Ideology? The False Belief That There Are Only 2 Genders.

My response to Pope Francis’ statement that "gender ideology" is a threat because it seeks to erase the difference between the sexes.

This morning, I read that the “Pope says gender theory is 'ugly ideology' that threatens humanity.”

Here is why everything that is attributed to the Pope in the article is not just wrong, but illogical and dangerous.

There is only one real meaning for gender ideology. Specifically, heteronormative dogma asserts that there are only two genders and their associated sexes. That is, namely cis-male and cis-female, whose primary purpose is procreation.

The belief that there are only two genders illustrates perfectly the theoretical nature of gender.

Gender is a social construct; it is how we explain and perceive our identity and how we perform gender in society.

Gender theory seeks to,

1. Explain at a behavioural, psychological, and social level why more people are questioning the limitations of the ideological, heteronormative two-gender binary construct.
2. Break down the ideology that there are only two genders and two sexes, and that gender is more than just sex characteristics alone.
3. Help us to better define and expand and add colour to the previously limiting ideas of man and woman along a broad and fluid spectrum of genders, including but not limited to cis, trans, non-binary, gay, lesbian, and so on.

"I have asked that studies be carried out into this ugly ideology of our times, which cancels out the differences and makes everything the same […] Cancelling out the differences means cancelling out humanity." — Pope Francis

The sheer ridiculousness of this illogical statement by Pope Francis is mind-boggling. No one is seeking to cancel genders and no one is “cancelling out the differences.” Even if that were to happen — which is completely illogical — that would de facto not cancel humanity.

Expanding our understanding of what gender and sexuality mean only increases the wonderful diversity and variety of identities and self-expression.

That is a far cry from — according to the Pope — ‘making everything the same.’

Therein lies the “ugly ideology”, as the Pope calls it.

The ugly ideology is the belief that humanity can only exist with a cis-male and a cis-female to procreate with each other. This is what ideological dogmatism looks like; everything is the same, can only happen in one way, and is vigorously policed.

This lack of critical thinking suggests that something else is behind the Pope’s statement.

The Pope’s irresponsible and illogical pronouncements demonstrate prejudice against anything not heteronormative.

The Pope might now responsible for more emotional trauma, suicide ideation, and suicides in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities — especially for youth. His words will only increase the harms and marginalization of Queer and Trans people who dare to freely live as their authentic selves — resulting in bullying, physical violence, and murder.

Perhaps the Pope has chosen this path to build bridges with the radical religious right that has been pulling away from the Roman Catholic Church.

Shame on the Pope, and in the immortal words of Sinéad O’Connor, “evil.”

Further reading:

• Too Many Gender Identifying Pronouns: The Decision Fatigue Paradox