Judith Butler
Gender theory
It states that Biology is not the main determinant of gender; many other things are
involved.
Sex is the category that one is assigned at birth.
Gender is a mix of:
o Cultural norms
o Historical formations
o Family influence
o Psychic realities
o Desires and wishes
“One is not born a woman, they become one. The body is not a fact.”
How it ties into language and the self
Her concept of gender perfomativity shows how language is central to how we
construct, express, and perceive our identities, especially gendered ones.
“Gender is not something we are, but something we do.” It is performed through
repeated actions, gestures, and most crucially, through language.
People “become” a gendered self through the way they speak and are spoken to.
1. Language constructs identity
Being referred to as “He” or “she”, being scolded or praised for certain behaviors
teaches us how to act out gender.
2. The performative nature of gender
She uses the idea of performativity which comes from Speech Act Theory
Certain statements don’t just describe reality, they create it.
E.g. “It.’s a boy!” doesn’t just report, it assigns a social role
From birth, language is used to assign and enforce gender roles, shaping a child’s
sense of self.
Gender theory
It states that Biology is not the main determinant of gender; many other things are
involved.
Sex is the category that one is assigned at birth.
Gender is a mix of:
o Cultural norms
o Historical formations
o Family influence
o Psychic realities
o Desires and wishes
“One is not born a woman, they become one. The body is not a fact.”
How it ties into language and the self
Her concept of gender perfomativity shows how language is central to how we
construct, express, and perceive our identities, especially gendered ones.
“Gender is not something we are, but something we do.” It is performed through
repeated actions, gestures, and most crucially, through language.
People “become” a gendered self through the way they speak and are spoken to.
1. Language constructs identity
Being referred to as “He” or “she”, being scolded or praised for certain behaviors
teaches us how to act out gender.
2. The performative nature of gender
She uses the idea of performativity which comes from Speech Act Theory
Certain statements don’t just describe reality, they create it.
E.g. “It.’s a boy!” doesn’t just report, it assigns a social role
From birth, language is used to assign and enforce gender roles, shaping a child’s
sense of self.
