Question

What are the two primary claims at work in Butler's essay "Imitation and Gender Subordination"?

A. Gender is inherent, and imitation is a form of flattery.

B. Gender is performative, and imitation reinforces gender norms.

C. Gender is predetermined, and imitation is a form of rebellion.

D. Gender is biological, and imitation is a cultural construct.

Answer 1

Judith Butler's essay posits that gender is performative and that imitation of societal norms reinforces gender norms. Gender identity is expressed through culturally influenced behaviors rather than inherent biological traits.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary claims in Judith Butler's essay "Imitation and Gender Subordination" are that gender is performative and imitation serves to reinforce gender norms. Butler suggests that gender is not an inherent attribute but rather a series of acts that are socially constructed through repeated performance. This performance is guided by societal norms, which dictate how individuals should act according to their assigned gender. As people imitate these norms, they perpetuate and reinforce the idea that these behaviors are naturally associated with their gender, rather than acknowledging that they are culturally produced.

Gender performance, as described by Butler, can be understood as the way individuals express their gender through actions, gestures, and speech, which are influenced by societal expectations. The concept of being 'naturally' a man or woman is thereby contested, suggesting that gender identity is something that is performed based on cultural norms rather than being biologically predetermined.

Answer 2

Judith Butler's essay suggests that gender is a social performance constructed through cultural practices, with imitation playing a key role in reinforcing gender norms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two primary claims at work in Judith Butler's essay "Imitation and Gender Subordination" are B) Gender is performative, and imitation reinforces gender norms. In her work, Butler challenges the notion of gender being a fixed category based on biological sex or one that is inherently predetermined. Instead, she offers a view of gender as a series of acts, gestures, and desires that individuals perform, which is constructed through culture and societal expectations. Butler's theory asserts that these repetitive performances constitute what we understand to be gender, hence gender is not something one is, but something one does.

Furthermore, the idea of imitation comes into play as a mechanism by which individuals learn and reinforce these gender norms. By imitating the behaviors, language, and presentations expected of their assigned gender, individuals contribute to the ongoing cycle of gender construction and reinforcement. This highlights the significance of imitation in maintaining the social order of gender norms.