I always so it as a mixture of mixing in a bit of real world sense with the themes of the show.
Like, they're an inorganic species with seemingly no natural way of reproducing themselves and a culture completely alien to any human one. Them actually thinking of themselves in terms of human gender and sexuality would make no sense whatsoever.
At the same time, they look and are addressed as female, because of the themes of the show and because it's more convenient that way.
The ant comparison doesn't really work because worker ants (and bees and wasps) are actually, genetically female, except they're forced into a state of sterility. Gems don't even have something like that going for them.
edited 16th Aug '16 12:52:50 PM by LSBK
Just because they don't have genders doesn't mean they can't have preferences; I cannot talk for ruby and sapphire, because they didn't date anyone else before, I cannot even talk for the other gems because I don't even know if they had those kinds of relationships in their society, but Rose seems to only have dated men.
edited 16th Aug '16 1:15:03 PM by Gabo352
They're using Pearl's song from "Mr. Greg" as reference...she only dated men.
edited 16th Aug '16 1:27:11 PM by randomness4
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.It was in the first line of the song...that's fine.
edited 16th Aug '16 1:30:42 PM by randomness4
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.![]()
If they recognize terms like "mankind", sure, but otherwise...no. "Men" is pretty clear.
edited 16th Aug '16 1:38:45 PM by randomness4
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.Which had lead some people to conclude she prefers men when it comes to humans because they're more different from gems than female humans are.
That trope description would fit Rose to a tee, if weren't supposed be about humans being interested in aliens, and not the other way around.
I don't just mean romantically either. She pretty much adores everything about earth and everything humans make and do.
edited 16th Aug '16 2:12:50 PM by xanderiskander
i was repressing the squick reflex thanks
moved to Oceanstuck because this handle was starting to bother me my tumblr

That was a mis-translation.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.