Question

Outline Judith Butler’s notion of ‘gender performativity’. Do you find this a useful concept for the study of gender in international relations?

Answer 1

Judith Butler’s notion of ‘gender performativity’ explains that the idea of gender is a social construct. Gender performativity explains that gender identity is unstable.‘gender performativity’ does not rejects all gender identities, Judith Butler’s do accept that there is the existence of some gender identities. On the issue of gender and sex, Butler states that gender and sex could be similar if sex, just as gender, is socially constructed. For butler gender and sex are the same and both are socially constructed. She further states that gender is performative that it is an act of various repetitive gender-specific roles and performances which have a series of effects. Gender identity is formed through these acts.

These concepts are very philosophical and complex. These can be studied in gender international relations. As the theory states the performative function of gender. These acts are sometimes stable which makes stable gender identity. People with stable gender identity are accepted in society and given preference over everything.people who posses stable gender identities are at the highest of positions like presidents, CEOs, businessmen, etc. If these performative acts are unstable then it will create the unstable gender identities which are not considered normal in this world.these identities include transgender, homosexuals, etc. gender to in international relations talks about these unstable gender identities- there is acceptance, ignorance, prejudice, discrimination all at the same time.

Lastly, overall the gender performativity is a very critical philosophical theory. It is interesting that it can be associated with various concepts of society and how it can be moulded into understanding the complex concepts of sex and gender. The biological aspects and the sociological aspect of MAle/female/transgender is very interesting to study at various spheres of life.