Nella Larsen's Passing

Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity states that the concept of gender is only based on continued repetitions and imitations of past behaviors and traits, rather than gender having its own inherent and inseparable set of behaviors and traits. Variations in gender norms are then caused by a continued violation of the previous set standards for the gender. In her theory, gender is not something that exists by itself but only exists as a repeated illusion. The same theory of social norms being caused by repeated behavior can not only apply to gender, but race as well.

In Nella Larsen’s Passing, two black characters, Irene and Clare are both able to pass as white. However, the ways in which each accepts this racial identity factors …show more content…
Similar to gender, race is also a social construct caused by repeated imitations of certain behaviors and traits. Clare, while black, is able to pass as white because she subverts the previously set standards of what it means to be black, such as socialising solely with white people, marrying a white man, and having lighter skin. Because of this, she is only really perceived as white when following the expected set of traits and behaviors of white people. When she, or Irene, violates this set, such as when she is socialising with other black people, she is no longer able to pass. Their abilities to pass are determined by which racial group they choose to socialise with due to the historical pattern of segregation. The fluidity of the circumstances in which they can pass portrays race as a type of action rather than an inherently attached identity as who they choose to interact with determines what social category they are seen as by society. However, it is also important to note that Clare’s choice was not fully free due to being raised by white people in her childhood showing how differences in upbringing, and therefore socialisation, can change how one socializes and is perceived later in