1. Judith Butler: “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution”
Kelsey Helveston

2. Judith Butler
Professor of Comparative Literature and Rhetoric at UC Berkeley since 1993
Philosophy, Feminist Theory, Gender Theory, Queer Theory
Focuses on power, gender, sexuality, identity
Best Known for:
Gender Trouble (1990)
Bodies That Matter (1993)
Major influence in academia and political activism1

3. Let’s Talk About Binaries
We are taught that…
Opposites, but not always equal opposites
Reinforce hierarchy and power structures
Can’t have one without the other
Butler…
Definitions of binaries change over time and by culture
Not opposites
Continuum2

4. 1988: “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution”
Gender is performative
Through performative acts, we become
Gender is separate from biological sex
Gender is not natural; it is socially constructed
But we think it’s natural because of gender norms
Gender varies by time period and culture
Gender categories and oppression
Binaries: heterosexual v. homosexual
Gender performativeness is not gender expression
Gender is something you do, not something you are.3

5. 1990: “Imitation and Gender Insubordination”
Sexuality on a continuum (Foucault)
Totalization of “I”
Gender categories
Gender is performative
No one is 100% anything
Gender is not biological or natural
Gender definitions vary by time period and culture
Binaries: heterosexual v. homosexual4

6. Butler Explains “Performing” v. “Performative”5

7. Gender Categories Not just male/female “Queer” category
Cisgender v. non-conforming
Think LGBTQ+
Whole community advocating for acknowledgment
Social media
Protests
Non-discriminatory laws
Gender-neutral pronouns6

8. NYC Human Rights Law Issued in December 2015 Specifically in NYC
Not news until spring 2016
Specifically in NYC
Can’t discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression
Released list of 31 gender identities
Encourages use of preferred pronouns7

9. Works Cited
Theory.org.uk. "Judith Butler." Theory.org.uk. Theory.org.uk, n.d. Web. 31 Jul <
Vetter, Lara. “Gender and Sexuality.” UNC Charlotte. Charlotte, NC. 30 Mar Class discussion.
Butler, Judith. "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory." Theatre Journal 40.4 (Dec. 1988): pp Web. 31 Jul
Butler, Judith. “Imitation and Gender Insubordination.” The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Eds. Henry Abelove, Michèle Aina Barale, and David M. Halperin. New York: Routledge, Web. 31 Jul
Big Think. “Judith Butler: Your Behavior Creates Your Gender.” Online video. YouTube. YouTube, 6 Jun Web. 31 Jul
Neverfearqueerishere. “Neverfearqueerishere.” Instagram. Instagram, Web. 31 Jul
Hasson, Peter. "New York City Lets You Choose From 31 Different Gender Identities." The Daily Caller. The Daily Caller, 24 May Web. 01 Aug
NYC Commission on Human Rights. "Gender ID Card." (n.d.): n. pag. Nyc.gov. NYC Commission on Human Rights. Web. 31 July <