Role essentialism

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The term "role essentialism" was used in 2011 by Thomas M. Millar. [1]

From that essay, the term is linked to the following pernicious and false ideas:

Role essentialism is upheld in scenes by role policing.


Criticisms

The idea that "role essentialism" is a bad thing is sometimes criticized [by whom?] because while a message of avoiding one true wayism is present [citation needed] and important, that definitions often are stripped down or diluted to the point where much of the implied meaning, nuance and associated best practices with an aspect of BDSM may be lost. This view itself assumes that some levels of role essentialism can have a positive and educational effect.

However, if, rather than "assuming" (with no motivation) that it has a positive effect, one actually looks at the evidence (Millar, 2011), one sees that it in fact has a negative effect.