Judith Butler's Theory of Gender Performativity

Introduction

• Focus on Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity.
• Clarification needed due to common misunderstandings of terms related to gender.

Key Definitions

• Biological Sex:
  • Related to reproductive organs, DNA, and genitals.
  • Example: XX chromosomes, female genitalia, and reproductive organs indicate biological female sex.
• Gender:
  • Often confused with biological sex.
  • A social construct related to behavior and self-perception (masculine or feminine).
  • How one feels inside or behaves culturally.

Judith Butler's Perspective

• Gender is constructed based on performed actions and behaviors.
• Performance:
  • Behaviors often associated with gender, e.g., makeup, fashion.
  • Repeated actions create one's gender identity.
  • Rituals contribute to forming the understanding of being male or female.

Examples of Gender Performance

• Female Behaviors:
  • Wearing makeup, high heels, dresses.
  • These acts, when performed regularly, contribute to a gender identity.
• Masculine Behaviors:
  • Playing football, drinking beer, aggression.
  • Learned through societal examples and repetition.

Media Products and Gender Construction

• Zoella's Vlogs:
  • Repeated focus on makeup, clothes, traditional feminine activities.
  • Constructs an idea of femininity for viewers.
• Huck Magazine's Beyond Binary Section:
  • Interviews with Arabia Felix and Jacob Tobia.
  • Discusses how their rituals (like makeup, drag) construct their gender identity.
• Jacob Tobia:
  • Identifies as gender non-binary.
  • Uses traditionally feminine clothing and makeup to express identity.

Application of Theory

• Analyze media products to see if gender is constructed through performance.
• Consider whether they imply certain actions to feel more aligned with a gender identity.

Conclusion

• Gender performativity is complex and involves analyzing repeated actions and behaviors.
• Use this theory to evaluate set texts or unseen media products for gender constructions.