In society, individuals have been constructed through performative acts to normalize certain gender behaviors. Based on the historical performative acts of gender, individuals have traditional roles to play. These historical performances of gender are defined by Judith Butler to be “an identity instituted through a stylized repetition of acts” (Butler 1988, 520), from which social constructs are formed. Thus, performative acts are constructed through the body and those repeated acts create specific gender principles. However, in relation to Anne McClintock’s argument, S/M roles are opposite of the performative acts that have been constructed and it allows change within gender normality’s and behavior.
