Based on the provided personal accounts from the trans community, here is a summary of what it means to be "gender critical."

A Foundation of Bioessentialism Being "gender critical" is described as being rooted in bioessentialism, which is the belief that a person's assigned sex at birth is an immutable, biological destiny that dictates their entire identity and role in society. This view is seen as a core tenet of the patriarchy it claims to oppose. As one person explains, "Bioessentialism is patriarchy, and patriarchy is misogyny... The existence of trans people proves bioessentialism incorrect" – Emily__Lyn source [citation:2a286bee-46a0-4848-b8a1-0427fcbab1c6]. This ideology is therefore experienced as a direct attack on the validity of trans lives and identities.

An Exclusionary Form of Feminism The perspective shared is that this ideology often operates under the banner of feminism but is, in practice, exclusionary and conservative. It is described as a movement that does not fight for all women, but rather seeks to exclude trans women from womanhood and feminist spaces. One user characterizes it as "plain ol conservatives in a feminist coat" that "don't care about poor women... non-white women... disabled women..." – TheDuceAbides source [citation:edeebdb5-afc8-45cf-848b-32379e7da572].

Reliance on Harmful Caricatures The accounts describe how gender-critical rhetoric relies on creating and promoting dehumanizing caricatures of trans people, especially trans women, often portraying them as predatory or deceptive. This is argued to stem from a worldview that reduces womanhood to its reproductive and sexual function. As one person states, those pushing these narratives "don’t see any inherent value in womanhood other than for a man’s sexual gratification" – Id_like_to_be_a_tree source [citation:7fed886c-8d95-4daf-b82c-9f4c3cc3969f].

A Destructive Impact on Well-Being From these personal stories, being gender-critical is not seen as a harmless philosophical debate. It is viewed as a destructive movement that actively works to undermine the rights, safety, and mental well-being of the trans community. Its goals are understood as efforts to deny trans people access to spaces, healthcare, and legal recognition, thereby invalidating their very existence. This is considered "possibly the most destructive narrative of the gender critical movement" – Sylvie_Ponders source [citation:b2dffe9b-6133-44cb-8286-99e26ad3ba18].

In summary, from the trans perspectives provided, to be "gender critical" is to uphold a bioessentialist and exclusionary ideology that is rooted in patriarchal misogyny. It is defined by its opposition to trans existence, its reliance on harmful stereotypes, and its destructive impact on the trans community's fight for rights and recognition. It is fundamentally viewed as an attempt to enforce a rigid, immutable view of gender that denies the reality and validity of trans lives.