6.1 Butler's theory of performativity
3 min read•august 7, 2024
's theory of performativity challenges traditional views of gender. It suggests gender isn't innate, but constructed through repeated acts that cite social norms. This idea revolutionized queer theory by exposing gender's artificial nature.
Butler's work explores how gender is performed and reinforced in society. She argues that subversive acts can disrupt gender norms, revealing their constructed nature. This concept has been influential in understanding gender identity and expression.
Gender as Performance
Repetitive Acts and Citationality
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- Gender is constituted through repetitive acts that cite pre-existing norms and conventions
- These acts are not freely chosen but are compelled by social norms and expectations
- Citationality refers to the way in which gender performances reference and reinforce existing gender norms ()
- Repetition of acts over time creates the appearance of a stable and natural gender identity
Performativity and Subversion
- Performativity is the process by which gender is constituted through repetitive acts
- Gender is not a pre-existing identity but is produced through the very expressions that are said to be its results
- Subversion involves disrupting and challenging dominant gender norms through non-normative gender performances (gender-bending, )
- Subversive acts can expose the constructed nature of gender and destabilize binary gender categories
Social Construction of Gender
Gender as a Social Construct
- Gender is not a natural or innate characteristic but is socially constructed through discursive practices
- Social norms, expectations, and power relations shape our understanding and experience of gender
- Gender is produced through the repetition of acts that conform to dominant gender norms (, stereotypes)
- The social construction of gender varies across cultures and historical periods (, shifting gender roles)
Discursive Production and Regulatory Norms
- Gender is produced through discursive practices, such as language, media representations, and institutional policies
- Discursive production involves the creation and circulation of gender norms and ideals
- Regulatory norms are the social expectations and rules that govern gender expression and behavior
- These norms are enforced through social sanctions, such as stigma, discrimination, and violence (, homophobia)
- The is the normative framework that assumes a binary gender system and heterosexuality as the default
Challenging Gender Norms
Gender Trouble and Subversion
- involves disrupting and challenging dominant gender norms and categories
- Subversion can take many forms, such as gender non-conformity, , and queer identities
- Subversive acts can expose the constructed nature of gender and destabilize binary gender categories (drag performances, gender-neutral pronouns)
- Gender trouble can also involve resisting and challenging the regulatory norms that enforce gender conformity
Heterosexual Matrix and Regulatory Norms
- The heterosexual matrix is the normative framework that assumes a binary gender system and heterosexuality as the default
- This matrix shapes our understanding of gender and sexuality and marginalizes non-normative identities and practices
- Regulatory norms are the social expectations and rules that govern gender expression and behavior within the heterosexual matrix
- These norms are enforced through social sanctions, such as stigma, discrimination, and violence (homophobia, transphobia)
- Challenging the heterosexual matrix involves recognizing and valuing the diversity of gender and sexual identities and practices (LGBTQ+ activism, queer theory)
Key Terms to Review (21)
Androgyny: Androgyny refers to a blending or mixing of traditional gender characteristics, resulting in an identity or expression that embodies both masculine and feminine traits. This concept challenges the strict binary understanding of gender by illustrating how individuals can embody aspects of both genders, highlighting the fluidity of gender identities and expressions within a broader social context. Androgyny serves as a critical point in discussions around identity, self-expression, and the cultural expectations surrounding gender roles.
Biopolitics: Biopolitics refers to the governance of populations through an intersection of politics, power, and the regulation of life. It explores how institutions and societal norms shape the experiences of individuals, particularly concerning issues like health, sexuality, and reproduction. This term connects to various theories and practices that question how identity and existence are regulated by cultural and political frameworks.
Cisgender: Cisgender refers to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. This term is important in understanding the broader spectrum of gender identities, as it highlights a common experience while contrasting with non-cisgender identities, such as transgender or genderqueer. Recognizing cisgender individuals helps in discussions about privilege and societal norms within gender discourse.
Discursive formations: Discursive formations refer to the ways in which language and communication shape our understanding of social phenomena, constructing knowledge and meaning through particular discourse. This concept highlights how certain patterns of thought and language create frameworks for understanding identities, power dynamics, and cultural norms, influencing how we perceive reality and ourselves within it.
Drag performances: Drag performances are artistic expressions where individuals, often men dressing as women or vice versa, exaggerate gender traits through clothing, makeup, and mannerisms. These performances challenge traditional gender norms and highlight the fluidity of gender identity and expression, inviting audiences to reconsider societal standards surrounding masculinity and femininity.
Gender fluidity: Gender fluidity is a gender identity that can change over time or depending on the situation, emphasizing the flexibility of gender as a spectrum rather than a fixed binary. This concept connects to various discussions surrounding the social and cultural construction of gender, highlighting that individual experiences of gender can be dynamic and non-static.
Gender performativity: Gender performativity is the concept that gender is not an inherent identity or trait, but rather something that is enacted and expressed through repeated behaviors, performances, and social norms. This idea suggests that individuals create their gender identities through their actions, emphasizing the fluidity and social construction of gender rather than viewing it as a fixed characteristic.
Gender policing: Gender policing refers to the societal enforcement of normative gender roles and behaviors, often through various forms of social pressure or violence. This concept illustrates how individuals are monitored and controlled to conform to culturally accepted standards of masculinity and femininity, which can result in the marginalization or punishment of those who deviate from these norms. It highlights the complexities of identity and expression, especially in relation to the performative aspects of gender.
Gender roles: Gender roles are societal norms and expectations regarding the behaviors, actions, and responsibilities deemed appropriate for individuals based on their perceived gender. These roles are deeply embedded in cultural contexts and influence how individuals express their identities and interact with others, often reinforcing binary notions of masculinity and femininity.
Gender trouble: Gender trouble refers to the disruption and questioning of traditional gender norms and identities, primarily articulated by Judith Butler in her work. This concept challenges the binary understanding of gender, suggesting that gender is not a fixed identity but rather a performance that can be subverted and redefined. By critiquing the rigid classifications of gender, it lays the groundwork for broader conversations about identity, sexuality, and power dynamics in society.
Heteronormativity: Heteronormativity is the cultural, social, and institutional belief that heterosexuality is the default or 'normal' sexual orientation, leading to the marginalization of non-heterosexual identities and relationships. This framework influences societal norms, expectations, and power dynamics, affecting everything from personal relationships to broader societal structures.
Heterosexual matrix: The heterosexual matrix is a concept that describes the cultural and societal framework that enforces heterosexuality as the normative sexual orientation, while also constructing rigid definitions of gender roles and identities. This framework shapes the way individuals understand their own identities and the expectations placed upon them, often marginalizing non-heteronormative and non-binary experiences. It operates through social norms, language, and institutions to maintain the dominance of heterosexual relationships and binary gender classifications.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality is a framework that examines how various social identities—such as race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability—intersect and create overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage. This concept highlights that individuals experience oppression in varying degrees based on their unique combinations of identities, which is crucial for understanding the complexities within social justice and advocacy work.
Judith Butler: Judith Butler is a prominent American philosopher and gender theorist known for her influential work on gender, sexuality, and identity. Her ideas, particularly around performativity, challenge traditional views of gender as a fixed identity and instead propose that it is constructed through repeated actions and societal norms, making her a foundational figure in queer theory and feminist thought.
Lgbtq+ rights: LGBTQ+ rights refer to the legal and social entitlements of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual orientations and gender identities. This term encompasses the fight for equality, non-discrimination, and recognition within various social, political, and cultural contexts, aiming to dismantle systemic barriers faced by these communities. The understanding of LGBTQ+ rights is deeply intertwined with performative aspects of identity, critiques of traditional institutions, political activism, and the diverse expressions of queer identities across the globe.
Non-binary: Non-binary is a gender identity that exists outside the traditional binary classification of male and female, encompassing a spectrum of gender identities that may combine elements of both, neither, or fall outside these categories altogether. This term connects to broader discussions about gender diversity, challenging normative understandings of gender roles and identities.
Queer liberation: Queer liberation is a social and political movement aimed at achieving freedom and equality for individuals who identify as queer, encompassing a range of sexual orientations and gender identities. It emphasizes the importance of dismantling systemic oppression based on sexuality, gender, race, and class, advocating for the rights and visibility of marginalized communities within a broader societal context.
Queer subversion: Queer subversion refers to the challenging and destabilizing of normative gender and sexual identities, practices, and structures, often through acts that defy societal expectations. This concept emphasizes how queer individuals and communities can disrupt traditional notions of identity by embracing fluidity and nonconformity, ultimately questioning the binaries that dominate cultural understandings of gender and sexuality.
The gendered society: The gendered society refers to a social framework where roles, expectations, and behaviors are defined based on gender distinctions. This concept highlights how gender shapes experiences and opportunities within various social structures, influencing everything from individual identity to institutional practices.
Third gender categories: Third gender categories refer to social and cultural classifications of gender that exist outside the traditional binary of male and female. These categories recognize and validate identities that do not fit neatly into conventional gender norms, allowing for greater diversity in gender expression and experience across different cultures. Understanding third gender categories is crucial for unpacking the complexities of gender identity and challenging binary frameworks in society.
Transgender: Transgender refers to individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This term encompasses a diverse range of experiences and identities, highlighting the complexity of gender and its distinction from biological sex, which is essential for understanding various perspectives in queer theory.