The concept of intrinsic inclinations is an alternative to other theories on gender identity and expression, including gender essentialism and social constructionist theories. However, Serano believes all theories may play a part in influencing our understanding and expression of our gender and sexuality.
Our intrinsic inclinations tend to remain constant through our lives, Serano says. They do not change with socialization. In other words, while socialization may cause us to act in a certain way at different points in our lives, being more sexually reserved with some partners and less reserved with others, for example, our intrinsic inclination to behave sexually one way or another will be more constant.
It’s important to note that the concept of intrinsic inclinations and how they contribute to gender and sexual identity and expression was not published in an academic journal, and never subject to a review by Serano’s peers. However, she offers several pieces of evidence that support her views. For example, she writes of boys with genital defects who receive surgery as infants that makes them appear as female and they are raised as girls, yet have a strong sense that they are, in fact, male. This phenomenon suggests that an individual's intrinsic inclination may be at least as powerful as socialization when determining one's gender identity.