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Judith Butler's Theory Of Gender Identity

729 Words3 Pages

Judith Butler is an American philosopher, gender theorist, and feminist who has significantly impacted political, feminist, and queer theory, as well as an array of other disciplines with her research and writings on gender. It is specifically her concept of gender performativity that has largely shaped modern feminism and gender theory and contributed largely to our current understanding of gender (Duignan). This theory originates from her book Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, published in 1990.
Although undoubtedly influential in gender theory, I believe that Butler’s theory of gender performativity is false and I reject it as an accurate explanation of gender. In this paper, I will dispute Butler’s theory of gender …show more content…

Butler states that gender identity, the inner sense and personal experience of one’s own gender, is not an innate component of humans. Gender is not an internal identity that a person is, but rather something that one does or performs. She declares that “there is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender; that identity is performatively constituted by the very ‘expressions’ that are said to be its results”. This demonstrates her argument that gender identity is produced by gender performance or expression, one’s gendered appearances and behaviors in society. Lastly, she explains that gender performance and the consequential gender identity is not decided by the individual (Butler).
My first argument against Butler’s theory my belief that gender identity is a being or an internal reality. I believe that in all humans, gender identity is inborn and we have no choice in this identity nor do we have the ability to change it. It is simply a matter of time until humans discover this identity that resides within them. I disagree with Butler’s stance that gender identity is formed by how humans express their gender because I believe that if gender identity is inborn, it is therefore impossible for gender expression to influence this identity, leading me to my second …show more content…

My gender identity is non-binary; I do not identify within the binary categories of man or woman, rather I am somewhere in between. I never made the conscious decision to be non-binary and therefore I believe that gender identity is inborn. I feel that being non-binary has influenced my gender expression, which has elements of both femininity and masculinity. My gender expression allows me to express my internal sense of my gender outwardly to society. In conclusion, while recognizing the significant impact of Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity of gender theory, I do not believe that it is an accurate explanation of gender. Judging from my own personal experiences surrounding gender identity and gender expression, I believe that Butler’s theory fails to realistically explain these two concepts and their relationship and that this is better explained in my three arguments against Butler’s

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