Write an essay addressing the following question: What does it mean to say gender and sexuality are ‘performed’ or ‘socially constructed’? Include references and examples, but explain this in your own words.

The concepts of gender and sexuality have long been debated and examined through various lenses in sociology, anthropology, and gender studies. One influential perspective is that gender and sexuality are not inherent, fixed, or purely biological traits, but rather, they are “performed” and “socially constructed.” This essay explores these ideas, elucidating how they shape our understanding of identity and behavior. Gender and Sexuality as Performance The idea that gender is performed was famously articulated by Judith Butler in her seminal work, “Gender Trouble” (1990). Butler argues that gender is not something one is, but something one does – it is