Hi there and nice to have you back! On this blog post we will be tackling the theory of gender performativity, it is described as “a certain kind of enactment; the “appearance” of gender is often mistaken as a sign of its internal or inherent truth; gender is prompted by obligatory norms to be one gender or the other (usually within a strictly binary frame), and the reproduction of gender is thus always a negotiation with power; and finally, there is no gender without this reproduction of norms that risks undoing or redoing the norm in unexpected ways” (Butler, 2009). In simpler terms, throughout one’s life, they repeat performances of gender that obey to gender norms, which has the function of marking gender performatives and depicting individuals as comprehensible. Thus, “gender is always a doing, though not a doing by a subject who might be said to pre-exist the deed” (Young, 2016). This theory was established by Judith Butler in 1990 after publishing her book, Gender Trouble. It opened the door for cultural configurations of sex and gender, and exposing the binarism of sex and it’s fundamental unnaturalness.
This theory is important for society as it can help others from being too quick to judge someone on appearance. If more people understood that gender is a construct that we were put in when we were born into the world there would hopefully be less homophobia. Since we were born we are told that only girls can play with dolls and only boys can like sports, we have been molded since the beginning to follow these gender norms but, has anybody wondered why we have to. People brave enough to question these norms and to act or dress how they want are persecuted for being different. Gender performativity allows individuals to finally understand that there is nothing wrong with them for liking the color blue instead of pink or vice versa. Hopefully, as more people learn about this theory they will be less likely to push gender norms on their kids or on other people and to let them grow into themselves organically.
How to end the cycle of gender performativity?
Do not judge anyone before you meet them and especially do not judge based on looks
Be open minded and accepting
Question gender norms
References
Butler, J. (2009). Performativity, Precarity and Sexual Politics. Retrieved from https://www.aibr.org/antropologia/04v03/criticos/040301b.pdf
Young, S. (2016, November 14). Judith Butler: Performativity. Retrieved from http://criticallegalthinking.com/2016/11/14/judith-butlers-performativity/#fnref-22068-9.
Big Think. (2011, June 6). Judith Butler: You Behavior Creates Your Gender [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7o2LYATDc&t=1s
Knowledge into Kindness 