Sex and Gender Performance
Butler tries to bring out the difference between being identified as a female and being identified as a woman in “performative acts and gender constitution” (Butler, 2018). According to Butler being recognized as a female does not necessarily mean that you are a woman. Being a woman refers to gender roles, and personal gender identity while being a female refers to the biological characteristics of the body. A person can be a female but fail to deploy biological body characteristics of a woman. According to Butler, a woman should reflect the historical idea of how a woman is supposed to be like being weaker than men, submissive to their husbands, humble and obedient; a woman has to be less masculine, soft, shy, and respectful (Butler, 2018). Butler brings out the difference between sex and gender. Butler argues that the body demonstrations and the spaces between the demonstrations in the reproduction of gender are where fluctuations occur.
In conclusion, I have a friend whom due to security purposes I will name her Jane. Jane contains a feminine gender, but she does not deploy female characteristics. Jane contains male characteristics such as masculinity, deep voice, and hanging out with boys more than girls. Consequently Jane also participates in male-dominated fields such as mining and construction. According to Butler, the most exciting thing about gender is that it is simple and better for a female to appear mannish but difficult for male to dress womanlike (Butler, 2018). According to Butler, gender is proved real after it is performed.
References
Butler, J. (2018). Gender Performativity. Judith Butler’s Notion of Gender Performativity, 20.