Performative Acts and Gender Constitution

According to gender theorist ,Judith Butler, we make a decision to take on a role or act in a certain way at every moment in our lives. We live in a world where gender is constructed and determines how we act, according to our assigned sex. This forces us to continually be in character playing to the gender that we present as in the world. Personally, I have had this problem most of my life. I am a black heterosexual woman but I am what society has termed a 'tomboy'. I hardly wear feminine clothing and my hair is always as short as possible. From a young age, I have always had my family worry about my appearance. My mom would buy me dresses that I never wore and in my teenage years, my male friends would borrow my clothing, but they would never consider me as a potential love interest. I did not act or speak like a man but because of the way I presented myself and my fashion choices, those around me had made certain assertions about whom I was.

We can only present as two sexes because of societal and cultural guarantees for reproduction. Society may have evolved but it still endorses heterosexually based systems of marriage and requires the result of these to be reproduction. With the emergence and presentation of varying genders , it is apparent that society is in a constant process of transformation. These changes have come about because Gender continues to be performative and able to undergo metamorphosis. We are able to construct identities that are stylized and repeated through time. Butler mentions that “our bodies are not merely matter but a continual and incessant materialization of possibilities." It is becoming more acceptable to be expressive in our chosen genders and sexualities but institutional powers and informal practices continue to regulate and keep people in their gendered place.

Gender roles are culturally formed and I experience that every day. I now live in Asia, and because of their limited exposure to other races and cultures,( which is changing), my appearance still causes a lot of confusion.

Societal unattainable expectations and cultural gender constructs are very evident when judgement befalls anyone who does not conform to gender norms.