Gender+Performativity+CON


 * Gender Performativity (CON) by: Meredith Head and Amanda Moore **

Gender Performativity can be defined as the idea that speech, actions, and reactions to societal factors and discourses shape and construct gender identity. In addition, “...gender is a kind of imitation for which there is no original; in fact, it is a kind of imitation that produces the very notion of the original as an effect and consequence of the imitation itself” (Butler, 2008, p.172).

In the video link ( [] ), Butler's argument for gender performativity is explained in less than 3 minutes. In the video clip Butler states "we act and walk and speak and talk in ways that consolidate an impression of being a man or being a woman." Gender performativity replaces fixed binaries with fluctuating and fluid discursive forces.

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 * // Productiveness //**** : ** Recent scholarly conversations have addressed several limitations of Judith Butler’s gender performativity concept. Conscious reflexivity, political identity, biological differences, and agency are often used to critique gender performativity. Several concepts used to critique gender performativity, such as identity politics and intersectionality, stem from Kimberle Crenshaw’s article (1991). =====

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To briefly address the biological critique, scholars argue against the complete social construction of gender as a result of its biological roots. Butler constructs gender performativity as an alternative to gender binaries. However, gender performativity fails to recognize gender as the dualism of sex and gender (Salih, 2007, p. 60). Therefore, the individual cannot be separated from the performance if gendered bodies are always performative. =====

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A predominant conversation against gender performativity addresses the issue of Feminism and politics. Scholars argue that if gender does not exist, then political issues addressing gender issues are no longer valid. Butler argues for a fluid discourse of gender identity, however she fails to address how negating the identity of “woman” erases large feminist arguments (e.g. Equal Work Pay). Gendered politics continue to be a popular issue, especially when discussing the Gender Pay Gap. =====

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In Susan Hekman’s article //Beyond identity Feminism, identity and identity politics// (2000), Hekman argues that identity should be entirely extracted from the political realm. Part of the foundation of feminism was emphasizing the differences between men and women by defining universal categories (Hekman, 2000, p. 290). In a sense, the inability to create universal gender distinctions weakens feminist politics. Boucher (2006) argues that if gender were only a political tool, then feminists would have difficulty achieving the political actions they seek. If gender is limited to a performance act, then other feminist debates against hegemonic policies have to be reconstructed or erased. Simply, acknowledging that there are feminist political issues serves as an argument against gender performativity by indicating that gender binaries exist and are prevalent. Hekman refers to the larger critique that Butler’s theory destabilizes identity to too far of an extent (Hekman, 2000, p. 290). Butler’s theory is limited in its use because of its failure to recognize a middle subject. In order to operate in the political realm an individual’s identity is a requirement for participation, therefore gender performativity is limited to operating in certain spaces. =====

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Another, substantial critique against gender performativity is the idea of conscious reflexivity. Gender performativity fails to include the intersections of individual’s identities. Nelson (1999) discusses the intersections between gender, sexuality, ethnicity, space, and place (Nelson, 1999). Nelson discusses the cultural and geographical limitations that contribute to the decrease of the utility of this Butlerian theory. Deconstructing gender identities through gender performativity limits discursive conversations regarding a subjects’ identity compared to other subjects. The theory's productivity further decreases when comparing gender identity to similar concepts, such as race or class. Similar to Hekman’s argument, Nelson argues that gender performativity should be replaced by a concept with a middle ground. Thus, the necessity for a more encompassing theory decreases the productivity of gender performativity (Nelson, 1999). =====

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**Ex:** A feminist website, [|herself.com], was created by Caitlin Stasey to empower women of all ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities. The website recognizes the multi-layers of a women’s identity, however it focuses on the one commonality of women: women’s bodies. This example demonstrates that concepts that intersect with gender cannot be completely stratified, when discussing an individual’s identity. =====

@http://www.heforshe.org
 * //Relevance: //**The HeForShe movement supports the idea that gender is biologically determined and not socially constructed. HeForShe is a "solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the benefit of all." Starting in March 2014, the HeForShe movement gained acclaim after actress, Emma Watson, gave a speech at the UN. HeForShe only recognizes two halves of humanity to support gender equality, men and women. Gender performativity is not useful for providing insight into the HeForShe movement because this support for gender equality acknowledges there are fixed differences between men and women. Even the logo for the movement illustrates the fixed differences in gender with a solid pink arrow, symbolizing female, meeting a solid black arrow, symbolizing male.

//**Contingency:**// Gender performativity’s usefulness is contingent on factors of culture. If identity is socially constructed then gender identities would change across cultures and history. If gender identity is biological then it is inherent when a person is born a male or female. Where did social constructs of identity start? Women have been considered the nurturers of society that care for the children. Through out history, men are the protectors of the family. A study by Hassett, Siebert, & Wallen (2008) found that toy preferences for male and female rhesus monkeys matched those of male and female children. This supports the claim that gender is biological and not simply a social construction and performance. As a concept, gender performativity is too specific and fails to recognize the influence of race and class on an individual’s identity. The element of language from gender identity is also absent from Butler’s concept of gender performativity. There is also the issue of an individual’s agency. Is everything a person does a performance of their gender?Individuals define themselves in various ways. Gender is not the only element of a person’s identity. **//Multimedia://** To further explain and demonstrate examples of the arguments against Gender Performativity we created a Pinterest page (@https://www.pinterest.com/amandamooreae/gender-performativity-con/ ). The Pinterest page displays examples of scientific research explaining gender differences, links to the HeForShe campaign, gendered politics, the complexity of identities, lesbian couples that do not fit the butch/femme role, and examples of artistic explorations of gender. Boucher, G. (2006). The politics of performativity: A critique of Judith Butler.Parrhesia, 1, 112-141. Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford law  review, 1241-1299. Hasset, J.M., Siebert, E.R., & Wallen, K. (2008. Sex differences in rhesus monkey toy preferences parallel those of children. Horm Behav. 54(3), 359-364. Hekman, S. (2000). Beyond identity Feminism, identity and identity politics. Feminist Theory, 1(3), 289-308. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Nelson, L. (1999). Bodies (and spaces) do matter: the limits of performativity.Gender, Place and Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography, 6(4), 331-353. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Salih, S. (2007). On Judith Butler and Performativity. Sexualities & communication in everyday life: A reader, 55-68.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Citations: **