Judith Butler's Gender Performativity Theory Explained! Media Studies Theory Revision

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In this video, we look at Judith Butler's feminist theory about Gender Trouble and her ideas about gender performativity - looking at how masculinity and femininity are represented and performed. Therefore, the gender identities we associate with gender are actually prefaces that we do rather than something that is born in us along with our sex.

This video is intended for people studying media studies a level, GCSE, or communication or culture studies, or even film studies. It is a very easy theory to apply to texts because all gender roles are either performed or subverted from.

[steveroberts]

I would also suggest the majority of people do not feel that they are 'performing' a gender role; for most people they just are what they are. The sense of 'performing' (of inauthenticity ) is only felt by those very few who are confused as to how their gender is to be manifest.

[richardkovacs]

I don't really like the way the video confuses "gender typical behavior" with fashion. Just one example. Wearing make-up was thought to be typical for professional prostitutes, therefore was not allowed to "decent girls" just 70 or so years ago. In the glam rock era wearing make-up was essential to male rockers. Metal hair bands dyed their hair - something that was unimaginable in the 1950s or 60s, just 20 years before hair-bands became fashionable. Also in the 18th century wearing make-up and wig was just as typical to men as women. In certain cultures it was men, who wore make-up, representing which tribe they belonged to. High heels were 1st created as men's wear, not for women. Trousers was a male wardrobe piece - however scots would like to politely disagree, that skirts were for only women. And now trousers and suits are unisex. And I could continue with the colors (pink vs blue), wardrobe assets, the video mentions, etc. This over-simplification of "stereotypical behavior" which doesn't take into account how FASHION changes (and fashion changes for various reasons and sometimes rapidly), is based on how we, in western/christian cultures express ourselves TODAY . To say, that people, who don't follow today's fashion are "gender non-conforms" is a wild strech. No, they are just not "fashion sensitive". And that has nothing to do with gender roles.

[searchforserenity]

I imagine expanding our society to become open to a non-binary view of gender could be problematic. Capitalism is built on creating values for us that can then be exploited for profit. It will be interesting to see how the creative minds running the advertising schemes incorporate a different view of gender into their campaigns.

[steveroberts]

Culture may have an effect on how gender is manifest, but that doesn't mean that gender is culturally determined. In the womb, a male fetus is exposed to different hormones to a female fetus, resulting in different brain structures, and after birth a significantly different psychology. That's not to say you can't have men with a feminine psychology or women with a masculine psychology, but these are outliers, unusual. You can't choose your gender, nor can social influences override your gender. Biology has a far bigger say than this video suggests.

[pslanez]

A big problem is that sex and gender are the same thing, it's only recently the primary meaning of the words is being changed. Your gender identity is like every other part of your personality and your 'self'; a creation of the mind that doesn't really exist. And it's horrifying how someone can come up with a theory and it become widely accepted and applied without any scientific testing whatsoever, the evidence in her book is clearly cherry picked to back up her theory. And Jaden Smith? That beloved actor? Progressive? Everyone hates him because he's a self-entitled narcissist. After Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the oscars everyone now looks at Jaden and says "Ok, now we get it!"

[booboodadfool]

I wonder what takes more energy; being masculine or feminine? I'm a guy, but when I see extra masculine presenting men I think it looks hard to maintain and limiting in behavior choice. Conversely, I know performing feminity through make up and dress is time consuming and sometimes physically uncomfortable. These are just the most conspicuous aspects and I'm tired already.

[yvonnes]

but aren't trans and LGBT a minority in society too? I think the questions is should it represent the percentage of society as the percentage of footage in film.. or should it all be equal?

[Igor-herr]

I would like to know what is wrong in society, which has male and female genders and roles... There will be always differences between people and no one will erase them...

[commandershepard]

Ok, but does that mean that biology plays no role in this? Is there no behaviour (and therefore created culture) that is influenced by the body? As subjects we learn to handle our world in a given frame of what we are told, ok. But if everything, perception included, happens biochemical in the body: Is there no difference between sex here? A tendency or something?
If sexes have different bodies with different features and we know of different processes in the body that a function in this, I find it hard to believe that nothing of that plays on in behaviour as well. What is the science on that?

[panephoto]

Idk how to feel about this idea/notion... As much as I agree I believe the suggestion proposed by Butler sort of shames people? If you know what I mean? Like I think if girls want to be "girly" it should be okay and not perceived as something like repeating the expected gender performance or whatever just as much as how some girls don't want to be girly as argued by Butler. I can understand her point of view but it just seems somewhat counterintuitive to me. I think in the end the most important aspect to take into consideration is just... you do you, you know?
I also think that in most cases people still have the choice to repeat or avert from the so-called repeated hetero normative performance and i think it should be okay either way.

[RikemagCola]

Really great video! I hope more people find your channel!

[kevincurrie-knight]

I like Butler for the most part, and think she is often treated too simply by critics. But one are where critics have a point is that Butler doesn't seem to take seriously the idea that media and cultural representations of 'masculine' and 'feminine, ' reflect to at least some degree the biological predispositions of their creators. That is, culture creates norms, but phenotypes with biologies create culture. So, does heteronormative norms create heteronormative people or do heteronormative people (who are to some extent that way because of their biologies) create heteronormative norms. And if we upended those heteronormative norms, is it possible that because biology is as it is, we'd still continue to be mostly heterosexual in behavior?

I"m not sure Butler would deny any of this. Because - and this is my problem - she basically sidesteps the question time and time again.

[Grokford]

To say that cultural gender norms are not gender is to admit that gender is not cultural. There exist a number of norms for many categories age, sexuality, profession, race, religion etc. but if a person doesn’t “act like an X” that doesn’t mean that the category isn’t real, it just mean that norms don’t cover the full reality of the situation.

[fairy]

The subversion part is exactly why I, as a woman in a western, predominantly white country, don't shave my legs or wax my moustache. It's strange how gender expression varies from culture to culture - showing that gender really is malleable. There have been (and still are) cultures with more than two genders, which allows for more acceptance of deviations from 'gender norms'. Thanks for the video!

[aytakingurbanzade]

You choose the sentences sooo accurately. WOW. Thank you for this great explanation!

[dominikosaurus]

So easily explained! Thanks for this video!

[sahaysnehal]

Great video. Just read the essay and this summed it all in a nutshell.

[truth_seeker]

Forget the feminist perspective and viewing from a normal human being's perspective, a man looks more hot when he's masculine and a woman looks more hot when she's feminine. Fact or not ?

[infinitewithinfinite]

I really love your videos!!!❤️ So easily explained!

[steveroberts]

So there are homosexual and trans characters in movies, but they are in the minority; well, isn't that because they are in the minority in society?