Judith Butler Performative Acts and Gender Constitution Kelsey

Judith Butler: “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution” Kelsey Helveston

Judith Butler • Professor of Comparative Literature and Rhetoric at UC Berkeley since 1993 • Philosophy, Feminist Theory, Gender Theory, Queer Theory • Focuses on power, gender, sexuality, identity • Best Known for: • • Gender Trouble (1990) Bodies That Matter (1993) • Major influence in academia and political activism 1

Let’s Talk About Binaries We are taught that… • Opposites, but not always equal opposites • Reinforce hierarchy and power structures • Can’t have one without the other Butler… • Definitions of binaries change over time and by culture • Not opposites • Continuum 2

1988: “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution” • Gender is performative • Through performative acts, we become • Gender is separate from biological sex • Gender is not natural; it is socially constructed • • • But we think it’s natural because of gender norms Gender varies by time period and culture Gender categories and oppression Binaries: heterosexual v. homosexual Gender performativeness is not gender expression Gender is something you do, not something you are. 3

1990: “Imitation and Gender Insubordination” • • Sexuality on a continuum (Foucault) Totalization of “I” Gender categories Gender is performative No one is 100% anything Gender is not biological or natural Gender definitions vary by time period and culture Binaries: heterosexual v. homosexual 4

Butler Explains “Performing” v. “Performative” 5

Gender Categories • Not just male/female • “Queer” category • • Cisgender v. non-conforming Think LGBTQ+ • Whole community advocating for acknowledgment • • Social media Protests Non-discriminatory laws Gender-neutral pronouns 6

NYC Human Rights Law • Issued in December 2015 • Not news until spring 2016 • Specifically in NYC • Can’t discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression • Released list of 31 gender identities • Encourages use of preferred pronouns 7

Works Cited 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Theory. org. uk. "Judith Butler. " Theory. org. uk, n. d. Web. 31 Jul. 2016. <http: //www. theory. org. uk/ctr-butl. htm>. Vetter, Lara. “Gender and Sexuality. ” UNC Charlotte, NC. 30 Mar. 2016. Class discussion. Butler, Judith. "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory. " Theatre Journal 40. 4 (Dec. 1988): pp. 519 -531. Web. 31 Jul. 2016. Butler, Judith. “Imitation and Gender Insubordination. ” The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Eds. Henry Abelove, Michèle Aina Barale, and David M. Halperin. New York: Routledge, 1993. 307 -320. Web. 31 Jul. 2016. Big Think. “Judith Butler: Your Behavior Creates Your Gender. ” Online video. You. Tube, 6 Jun. 2011. Web. 31 Jul. 2016. Neverfearqueerishere. “Neverfearqueerishere. ” Instagram, 2016. Web. 31 Jul. 2016. Hasson, Peter. "New York City Lets You Choose From 31 Different Gender Identities. " The Daily Caller, 24 May 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2016. NYC Commission on Human Rights. "Gender ID Card. " (n. d. ): n. pag. Nyc. gov. NYC Commission on Human Rights. Web. 31 July 2016. <http: //www. nyc. gov/html/cchr/downloads/pdf/publications/Gender. ID_Card 2015. pdf >.