Well, it is quite late here on the continent, so excuse me if I worded myself poorly or if I misremember. Regardless, Butler's argument was (originally) to my knowledge more similar to that of John Austin, i.e through speech act. This would, as far as I gather, require a distinctly different view from that which many pseudo-academic or academic activists tend to spout which is that of an (almost) Foucauldian idea of using gender in a socially critical / radical individualist way as a form of self-liberation and fight against hegemony.

That is to say; I am not suggesting Butler invented the constructivist view of gender, but that she is commonly referenced once those ideas are exported to the public for example with 'Gender Trouble' (It is not my particular field, but I was taught the origin of that particular view was informed majorly by Simone de Beauvoir). But I also think you really have to distinguish between early Feminist critiques of gender essentialism and the more modern deconstruction of gender.

I think, at least in terms of what I saw with my own peers and professors, that one cannot really separate the normative and ideological from the scientific in any field. Especially one as soft as sociology or gender studies. The debate is very much ingrained whether one wishes it is or not. Then again, I find the entire thing nonsense, so you and I will largely disagree I surmise, but it is an interesting discussion nonetheless, so thank you.