She is the maxine elliot professor in the departments of rhetoric and comparative literature at the university of california, berkeley. One of the most talkedabout scholarly works of the past fifty years, judith butlers gender trouble is as celebrated as it is controversial arguing that traditional feminism is wrong to look to a natural, essential notion of the female, or indeed of sex or gender, butler starts by questioning the category woman and continues in this vein with examinations of the. Undoing gender by judith butler, 2004 online research. Focusing on the case of david reimer who was medically reassigned from male to female after a botched circumcision, butler reexamines the theory of. It is always brave to insist on undergoing transformations that feel necessary and right even when there are so many obstructions to doing so, including people and institutions whos seek to pathologize or criminalize such important acts of selfdefinition. Jan 04, 2012 performative acts and gender constitution. Butler points out that the intelligibility of the human being, how we understand who we are, relates to conditions of intelligibility composed of norms, of practices that have become presuppositional. An essay in phenomenology and feminis t theor y, i n case, s.
Butler uses examples of transgender people and people doing drag to support the. An essay in phenomenology and feminist theory judith butler philosophers rarely think about acting in the theatrical sense, but they do have a discourse of acts that maintains associative semantic meanings with theories of performance and acting. Like what is most important is to cease legislating for all lives what is liveable only for some, and similarly, to refrain from proscribing. Judith butlers discussion in gender trouble 1990, pp. Butler, a professor in rhetoric, comparative literature, and womens studies at the university of california, berkeley, is best known for her groundbreaking book gender trouble, in which she outlined her theory of gender performativity and the construction of sexuality. Undoing gender judith butler, judith university of. Undoing gender is a 2004 book by the philosopher judith butler. This chapter offers an introduction to the american philosopher judith butler based on her work in a systematic perspective. Arguing that traditional feminism is wrong to look to a natural, essential notion of the female, or indeed of sex or gender, butler starts by questioning the category woman and continues in this vein with examinations of the. In terms that draw from feminist and queer theory, butler considers the norms that governand fail to governgender and sexuality. An introduction to gender we are surrounded by gender lore from the time we are very small. Gender performativity is a central tenet of the work of judith butler and rests on the idea that gender is constructed through the ongoing and repetitive practice of dialogue and actions to produce the phenomena that it regulates and constrains butler, 1990, p. In doing so, we are following four central trajectories in butler s thinking a impacts on gender and queer theory.
It is everpresent in conversation, humor, and conflict, and it is called upon to explain everything from driving styles to food preferences. Butlers analysis of drag fails to take fully into account the actualities and consequences of the. A second theoretical influence of gender as a doing derives from the work of judith. A wry look back at joseph beuyss performance with a coyote. I know that for some feels less brave than necessary, but we all have to. Judith butler free download as powerpoint presentation. Judith butler philosopher, feminist, theorist, woman education bennington college yale university where she received her b. An essay in phenomenology and feminist theory an essay in phenomenology and feminist theory by judith butler, 1990 slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. In 1993, she began teaching at the university of california, berkeley, where she has served, beginning in 1998, as the maxine. Although butlers subsequent works, notably bodies that matter 2004. The question of power and authority in gender performance.
It seemed to me, and continues to seem, that feminism ought to be careful not to idealize certain expressions of gender that, in turn, produce new forms of hierarchy and exclusion. Undoing gender and the aesthetics of organizational performance. What does butler 1999, 2004, 2011 mean when she uses the term gender. Oct 18, 2007 drawing on the work of judith butler, and informed by a critical or hermeneutic structuralism, we are concerned here to think through the relationship between performativity and the gendered organization of the desire for recognition as it is materialized in, and mediated by, the landscaping of corporate artefacts and organizationally compelled. There are two ways in which gender could be undone theoretically. Drawing on the work of judith butler, and informed by a critical or hermeneutic structuralism, we are concerned here to think through the relationship between performativity and. Butler examines gender, sex, psychoanalysis and the way medicine and the law treat intersex and transgender people. Butler 1990, a prominent figure within gender studies, discusses the expression and performativity of identity.
An essay in phenomenology and feminist theory judith butler philosophers rarely think about acting in the theatrical sense, but they do have a discourse of acts that maintains associative semantic meanings with theories of. Undoing gender constitutes judith butlers recent reflections on gender and sexuality, focusing on new kinship, psychoanalysis and the incest taboo, transgender, intersex, diagnostic categories, social violence, and the tasks of social transformation. Judith pamela butler born february 24, 1956 is an american philosopher and gender theorist whose work has influenced political philosophy, ethics, and the fields of thirdwave feminist, queer, and literary theory. This formulation judith butler is an assistant professor of philosophy at george washington university. May 14, 2006 one of the most talkedabout scholarly works of the past fifty years, judith butler s gender trouble is as celebrated as it is controversial. Since the publication of gender trouble in 1990, judith butler has revolutionised our understanding of identities and the ways in which they are constructed. Save texts as pdfs and create your own custom minipublication to download and print. Gender is embedded so thoroughly in our institutions, our actions, our. One of the most talkedabout scholarly works of the past fifty years, judith butlers gender trouble is as celebrated as it is controversial. One of the most talkedabout scholarly works of the past fifty years, judith butlers gender trouble is as celebrated as it is controversial arguing that traditional feminism is wrong to look to a natural, essential notion of the female, or indeed of sex or gender, butler starts by questioning the category woman and continues in this vein with examinations of the masculine and the. Undoing gender constitutes judith butler s recent reflections on gender and sexuality, focusing on new kinship, psychoanalysis and the incest taboo, transgender, intersex, diagnostic categories, social violence, and the tasks of social transformation. Gender logic and undoing gender at work wiley online library.
Philosophers rarely think about acting in the theatrical sense, but they do have a. Neither of these is precisely a possession, but both are to be understood as modes of being dispossessed, ways of being for another, or, indeed, by virtue of another. Undoing gender and the aesthetics of organizational. The work is influential in feminism, womens studies, and lesbian and gay studies, and has also enjoyed widespread popularity outside of traditional academic circles. Judith butler, the author of gender trouble 1990 and many other books, is maxine elliot professor in the department of comparative literature and the program of critical theory at the university of california, berkeley. In a new introduction to the 10thanniversary edition of gender troubleamong the two or three most influential books and by far the most popular in the field of gender studiesjudith butler explains the complicated critical response to her groundbreaking arguments and the ways her ideas have evolved as a result. Butler, subjectivity, sexgender, and a postmodern theory. Arguing that traditional feminism is wrong to look to a natural, essential notion of the female, or indeed of sex or gender, butler starts by questioning the category woman and continues in this vein with examinations of the masculine and the. In this paper i will critique judith butlers recent views on gender, which i will argue, fail to be a convincing synthesis of freudian and foucauldian views.
Judith butler is an american gender theorist whose writing has influenced our understanding of feminism and gender identity. What do you think some of these norms and practices may be. Undoing gender 1st edition judith butler routledge book. Butler, subjectivity, sexgender, and a postmodern theory of. In terms that draw from feminist and queer theory, butler considers the norms that govern and fail to govern gender and. Butler, j udith 1990 performative acts and gender constitution. Pdf this essay explores the controversy spawned by the release, in april, 2004, of the photographs taken by u. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Judith butler judith butler, the author of gender trouble 1990 and many other books. And so when we speak about my sexuality or my gender, as we do and as we must, we mean something complicated by it. Undoing gender judith butler routledge new york and london 2. This volume examines her critical thought through key texts, touching upon such issues as.
Nevertheless, she has resisted the urge to revise what has. One subjects of sexgenderdesire 3 i women as the subject of feminism 3 ii the compulsory order of sex genderdesire 9 iii gender. Published in 2004 by routledge 270 madison avenue new york, ny 10016. In terms of performance performativity judith butler. In undoing gender, judith butler develops upon her earlier work in gender and queer theory. Oct 08, 2009 in undoing gender, judith butler develops upon her earlier work in gender and queer theory. Butler 1990, 1993, 2004, drawing mainly on poststructuralist theories. That would likely be the nonacademic individuals response to either of. The subject gender sex language the psychewith clear discussions of the context and impact of butlers work and an. In terms that draw from feminist and queer theory, butler considers the norms that governand.
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