Media Factsheet #125: Gender for A2 - Focus on Judith Butler
This Factsheet offers much more depth on Judith Butler and her work inGender Trouble (1990) - the argument that gender is a process or performance and not biologically set. It explores how Butler fits into wider media theoretical perspectives (e.g. Structuralism and Post-Structuralism) and also criticisms of her approach. One key criticism is the difficulty in applying Butler's ideas to feminist campaigns in the real world - relevant to our recent work on the possibility of a fourth wave of feminism.
Media Factsheet #125: Gender: Beyond Butler
This Factsheet explores a wider interpretation of the representation of women in media and society. It offers a historical perspective, looking particularly at the 1970s and British television. It also builds on Factsheet #89 and Jean Kilbourne's work on advertising and the representation of women. Finally, the Factsheet addresses masculinity and the changing representations of men in the media over the last 30 years.
Key Strands of Critical Thought
Phenomenology
This is the study of the way in which things appear to us (consciousness); used since the 18th century, it is associated with Kant, Hegel, Husserl and Sartre. Phenomenology considers how the mind perceives the world around it (anything external to the mind)
Structuralism
Structuralism focuses on the presumption that texts have a defined meaning, and that this meaning is created through the use of visual signs that carry meaning (signifers). Thinkers include Roland Barthes (enigma and action codes), Lévi-Strauss (binary oppositions), Todorov/ Propp (narrative theory/ roles). Structuralists are focused on the structure of a text, and the text itself.
Post-Structuralism
Here thinkers such as Michel Foucault move beyond structuralism to challenge the ‘defined meaning’ of the text. Post-structuralists consider not the structure of the text, but the audience who is decoding the text. Thus, post-structuralism considers texts to have various meanings depending on the audience. The author is no longer taken as the source for the meaning for a text – something Roland Barthes defined as ‘the death of the author’.
O Butler’s ideas focus on the construction of gender identity
O gender is not given, but constructed;
O Butler states that there are ways of ‘doing’ (constructing, exploring, developing, being) identity which challenge the existing binary oppositions of male/ female, masculine/ feminine, gay/ straight. This would cause problems for those in society that benefit from the existing binary oppositions that relate to gender and sexuality;
he French writer and intellectual Simone de Beauvoir considered identity during the early 20th century:
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.
de Beauvoir is claiming that individuals become women through a process.
Butler considers de Beauvoir’s statement and argues that
“it follows that woman itself is a term in process, becoming, a constructing that cannot rightfully be said to originate or end.”
There is no single defined subject of ‘woman’ or ‘women’ as it is a term (and therefore subject) which is evolving/ constructing/ developing constantly.( ongoing discursive practice... open to intervention and resignification.”)
Counter Arguments
Phenomenology
This is the study of the way in which things appear to us (consciousness); used since the 18th century, it is associated with Kant, Hegel, Husserl and Sartre. Phenomenology considers how the mind perceives the world around it (anything external to the mind)
Structuralism
Structuralism focuses on the presumption that texts have a defined meaning, and that this meaning is created through the use of visual signs that carry meaning (signifers). Thinkers include Roland Barthes (enigma and action codes), Lévi-Strauss (binary oppositions), Todorov/ Propp (narrative theory/ roles). Structuralists are focused on the structure of a text, and the text itself.
Post-Structuralism
Here thinkers such as Michel Foucault move beyond structuralism to challenge the ‘defined meaning’ of the text. Post-structuralists consider not the structure of the text, but the audience who is decoding the text. Thus, post-structuralism considers texts to have various meanings depending on the audience. The author is no longer taken as the source for the meaning for a text – something Roland Barthes defined as ‘the death of the author’.
O Butler’s ideas focus on the construction of gender identity
O gender is not given, but constructed;
O Butler states that there are ways of ‘doing’ (constructing, exploring, developing, being) identity which challenge the existing binary oppositions of male/ female, masculine/ feminine, gay/ straight. This would cause problems for those in society that benefit from the existing binary oppositions that relate to gender and sexuality;
he French writer and intellectual Simone de Beauvoir considered identity during the early 20th century:
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.
de Beauvoir is claiming that individuals become women through a process.
Butler considers de Beauvoir’s statement and argues that
“it follows that woman itself is a term in process, becoming, a constructing that cannot rightfully be said to originate or end.”
There is no single defined subject of ‘woman’ or ‘women’ as it is a term (and therefore subject) which is evolving/ constructing/ developing constantly.( ongoing discursive practice... open to intervention and resignification.”)
Counter Arguments
Benhabib is suggested that Butler is not acknowledging the struggle of women within society, and that many women’s
sense of identity is too fragile to be able to take control and ‘do’ the gender for themselves.
Martha Nussbaum
“it is also obvious that Butler’s work is not directed at a non-academic audience eager to grapple with actual injustices”
“Butler’s self-involved feminism is extremely American”
“Butler’s self-involved feminism is extremely American”
“Judith Butler’s hip quietism is a comprehensible response to the difficulty of realizing justice in America. But it is a bad response. It collaborates with evil. Feminism demands more and women deserve better”
The main criticism which comes from feminist activists concerns Butler’s theoretical, language-based approach that appears impractical for
solving real-world inequalities.
If you're looking for recent examples of feminism in the media then you'll find plenty. Prime Minister Theresa May is personally overseeing work on domestic violence legislation and there have been many other stories over the last few years that we can link to feminism. Here are just a few you may want to read up on:
Caroline Criado-Perez: female presence on banknotes
Emma Watson: HeForShe gender equality campaign
Ched Evans: petition to prevent footballer accused of rape playing
Controversial FCKH8 campaign: ‘Potty Mouth Princess’
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