Summary Of Performative Acts, And Gender Constitution By Judith Butler

Through her essay, Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory, Judith Butler explores the conceptual presence and creation of gender identity within society. Using past philosophies and theatrical examples, she discusses the complex nature of gender identity that exists through the false reality of societal values and sanctions. Throughout her exploration of the reflective notions surrounding performance and gender identity, Butler portrays gender as an abstract perception that exists through a shared reality and mutual acknowledge of common acceptance. While Butler’s assertion of the false manifestation of gender identity reflects the complex nature of the subject, she neglects to acknowledge the transforming societal norms that are constantly changing the definition of gender. Despite her insipid exploration on nontraditional gender identities, she successfully identifies the binary contract and temporal existence between gender and social norms. As Butler asserts that gender is crafted through performative acts, she successfully
Identifies the difference between gender and sex. “To be female is…a facticity …show more content…
Much like expected actions and behaviors associated with each gender are determined by time, societal norms and values are also constantly changing. However, Butler is still correct in her main argument that gender is a reflection of societal norm and it is largely based on performative acts and expectations. When Butler published the essay in 1996, there was no nontraditional marriage movement or the widespread concept of changing one’s biological sex and crafting a gender. The advancement of gender identity and expectation within the past twenty years is a reflection of the ever changing social norms and