Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (Routledge Classics)

This was one of my first toe-dippings into feminist thought. I’m acquainted with a wide range of philosophical sub-disciplines (phenomenology, German idealism, post-colonial studies, etc), but feminist thought was fairly new to me. Beware, Butler is not pop-philosophy; she is a serious academic covering a wide range of thinkers such as Lacan, Irigaray, Freud, and others in very technical language.I disagree with those tho say she is purposefully convoluted in her syntax and diction—in a manner not too dissimilar from those accusations volleyed against Hegel. Her language is very precise and adequately, not only sums up, but picks apart very complex ideas such as Lacan’s phallogocentrism, the Oedipus Complex’s creation of gender, various feminist movements seeking to ground femininity in a universal female identity, etc.Butler’s project is nothing less than to expand upon the idea of the gender spectrum in a philosophically rigorous way. She envisions a future for feminist which is coalitional, in which identity’s fluidity is accepted and utilized as the ultimate backbone to representation. While she also only mentions the idea of gender identity being fluid rather briefly, it’s safe to say that this is also a key element of her work here.The book is structured exceptionally, examining a number of different philosophers’ conceptions of gender and dismantling them and then gradually synthesizing a fuller theory of gender as a fictitious category used to bare certain people’s ability to be represented. Please read this, it’s definitely worth the time!

This book is a seminal work that challenges conventional notions of gender and identity. Butler's writing is both intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking, offering a deep analysis of how gender is constructed and performed in society. Her ideas have had a profound impact on feminist theory and have sparked important conversations about gender norms and roles.One of the strengths of "Gender Trouble" is Butler's ability to deconstruct complex ideas in a way that is accessible to readers. She uses a mix of philosophical inquiry, literary theory, and political analysis to explore the ways in which gender is enforced and resisted. Her argument that gender is performative, meaning that it is something we do rather than something we are, is particularly compelling and has influenced a generation of scholars and activists.However, some readers may find Butler's writing style dense and challenging at times, especially if they are not familiar with the theoretical frameworks she draws upon. Additionally, her ideas have been critiqued for being overly abstract and disconnected from the experiences of marginalized individuals.Overall, "Gender Trouble" is a groundbreaking work that continues to be relevant today. It is essential reading for anyone interested in feminist theory, gender studies, or the politics of identity.

I'm no expert but I'm reminded of what a friend once confessed to me: it's hard talking about gender without it turning into a freak show. To her credit, Judith Butler speaks sincerely, with great subtlety, about a very touchy subject. Nevertheless, when you consider that words like "sex," "heterosexual," and "homosexual" are hardly a century old, you have to ask why do they seem so certain, so meaningful, so permanent and timeless? Why is it so hard to consider these words as concealing rather than revealing? In the tradition of Marx and Foucault, Butler begins to demystify their credibility and reveals how gender is something which is 'performative'. By this, she does not mean like a role which is donned (though those who don reveal) but rather as a repetitive, cultural activity from which identity is derived. This work is thought to be the beginning of 'queer theory.'

Butler gets a lot of flak for being a dense writer, and has "won" some award for being the most indecipherable to read; it's a lot of hype. She is not easily accessible but with some work you can get at it. This isn't the place for a full on analysis, review & such, that you can find elsewhere alongside critiques. Bottom-line if you're interested in postmodern/poststructural approaches in a gender/queer theory discourse this is a good book to read.