a term in sociology to describe something that is created, defined and/or ascribed by society; and as such, may or may not be universal. An example of a social construct is money; money does not exist without the social defining of its value and worth.

Gender is a social construct: this doesn’t mean that gender does not exist (just as money does not exist), and as such, understandings and definitions of gender can be cultural, which is why many different descriptions and gender identities have existed throughout time and from culture to culture; and as such the associated gender norms and expectations are also social constructs.