The Sociology Book

60

Butler argues that both sex and
gender are socially, not biologically
determined. At the heart of
her argument is the idea that
“gender is not something that one
is, it is something one does... a
‘doing’ rather than a ‘being’.”
Conventionally, our anatomical
sex (female or male) is considered
to be the cause of our gender
(femininity or masculinity),
according to the cultural norms
associated with them. But Butler
challenges the idea of a stable and
coherent gender identity. According
to her, it is the things that we do,
our “gender acts,” that determine
our gender, and even the way
we perceive our biological sex.
When we behave in ways that are
“appropriate” to our sex, we are
imitating the norms of gender
identity, which are based on the
ways that each sex behaves. We
are performing a role that does
not in fact exist; in essence, there
is no original template for “female”
or “male”—the original itself is
derived. So, if one is born female,
one behaves in what is considered
to be a “feminine” way (by, for
example, desiring a male partner),
and comes to accept the fact that
sex with men is associated with
that gender.

It is, Butler says, these “gender

acts”—which include such things

as dress, mannerisms, and all sorts

of everyday activities as well as

sexual activity and choice of sexual

partner—that determine the sex

we perceive ourselves to be. Even

the language we use reinforces

the social norms, ensuring that

we perform in a certain way.

Subversive acts

Butler claims that, crucially, it is

the constant repetition of this kind

of performance that molds gender

identity, so that .”..the actors

themselves come to believe and

to perform in the mode of belief.”

JUDITH BUTLER

To escape the restrictiveness

of this kind of sexual typecasting,

Butler advocates subversion,

deliberately performing in a way

that goes against the conventional

gender acts. Using what she calls

“performativity of gender,” such as

cross-dressing or drag, the norms

are challenged, but also one’s

perception of gender and even

sex can be changed. Butler insists

that this should not be merely a

trivial lifestyle choice—we cannot

wake up and decide what gender

we want to be that day—but a

genuine act of subversion, and like

the gender acts it is subverting,

one that is performed on a regular

Gender identity, according to Butler, is not a part of a person’s

essence but the product of actions and behaviors. It is the

repeated performing of these actions and behaviors—combined

with the taboos imposed by society—that produce what is seen

as an essentially masculine or feminine identity.

Gender acts

Taboo Dress

Behavior Gestures

...laughter emerges

in the realization

that all along the

original was derived.

Judith Butler