Full size book cover of Who's Afraid of Gender?}

Who's Afraid of Gender?

Judith Butler

4.01(2075 readers)
Judith Butler, the ground-breaking philosopher whose influential work has redefined how we think about gender and sexuality, confronts the attacks on gender that have become central to right-wing movements today. Global networks have formed "anti-gender ideology movements" dedicated to circulating a fantasy that gender is a dangerous threat to families, local cultures, civilization --and even "man" himself. Inflamed by the rhetoric of public figures, this movement has sought to abolish reproductive justice, undermine protections against violence, and strip trans and queer people of their rights.But what, exactly, is so scary about gender? In this vital, courageous book, Butler carefully examines how "gender" has become a phantasm for emerging authoritarian regimes, fascist formations, and transexclusionary feminists. They illuminate the concrete ways that this phantasm displaces anxieties and fears of destruction. Operating in tandem with deceptive accounts of critical race theory and xenophobic panics about migration, the anti-gender movement demonizes struggles for equality, fuels aggressive nationalism, and leaves millions of people vulnerable to subjugation.An essential intervention into one of the most fraught issues of our moment, Who's Afraid of Gender? is a bold call to make a broad coalition with all those whose struggle for equality is linked with fighting injustice. Imagining new possibilities for both freedom and solidarity, Butler offers us an essentially hopeful work that is both timely and timeless.

Publisher

Allen Lane

Publication Date

3/19/2024

ISBN

9780241595824

Pages

320

Categories

Social Sciences

About the Author

Portrait of author Judith Butler
Judith Butler
Judith Butler is an American post-structuralist and feminist philosopher who has contributed to the fields of feminism, queer theory, political philosophy and ethics. They are currently a professor in the Rhetoric and Comparative Literature departments at the University of California, Berkeley.

Butler received their Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale University in 1984, for a dissertation subsequently published as Subjects of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France. In the late-1980s they held several teaching and research appointments, and were involved in "post-structuralist" efforts within Western feminist theory to question the "presuppositional terms" of feminism.

Their research ranges from literary theory, modern philosophical fiction, feminist and sexuality studies, to 19th- and 20th-century European literature and philosophy, Kafka and loss, and mourning and war. Their most recent work focuses on Jewish philosophy and exploring pre- and post-Zionist criticisms of state violence.

Questions & Answers

The book addresses the fear and opposition surrounding "gender" by examining its multifaceted reception across global contexts. It highlights the Vatican's significant role in fostering anti-gender rhetoric, particularly through its stance on gender as a threat to traditional values, family, and the natural order. The Vatican's influence is shown to extend beyond religious doctrine, influencing national policies and educational curricula.

The book also explores how the concept of "gender" is used as a tool for political and social control, with various groups, including right-wing Evangelicals and nationalistic movements, co-opting the term to advance their agendas. It emphasizes the contradictions within the anti-gender movement, illustrating how its arguments are often incoherent and contradictory, yet still influential.

The book argues that the fear of "gender" is exploited to undermine social movements and public policies, leading to a rollback of progressive legislation and the stripping of rights from sexual and gender minorities. It calls for transnational coalitions to combat this fear and promote a vision of equality and justice.

The author counters the notion that gender is destructive by emphasizing its social construction and importance in human experience. Key arguments include:

  1. Social Construction: The author argues that gender is not a fixed biological reality but a social construct, shaped by cultural, historical, and material factors. This challenges the idea that gender is immutable and instead highlights its malleability.

  2. Material and Social Interactions: The author emphasizes the interplay between the material and social dimensions of the body, noting that both are constructed through practices, discourses, and technologies.

  3. Counter-Imaginary: The author advocates for a counter-imaginary to challenge the destructive phantasm of gender. This involves developing a compelling vision that affirms the rights and freedoms of embodied life.

  4. Challenging Essentialism: The author critiques essentialist views that claim gender is inherently linked to biology, arguing that such views ignore the complexities of human experience.

  5. Historical and Contextual Understanding: The author emphasizes the historical and contextual nature of gender, noting that it is not a timeless reality but evolves over time.

  6. Translation and Decolonization: The author discusses the challenges and opportunities of translating the term "gender" and the importance of decolonizing gender studies to better understand diverse experiences.

  7. Intersectionality: The author suggests that understanding gender requires considering its intersections with other categories like race, class, and sexuality, highlighting the multifaceted nature of human experience.

The book analyzes the role of race, colonialism, and nationalism in shaping the understanding and opposition to gender by illustrating how these factors intertwine to create complex and often contradictory narratives. It argues that the gender binary, as a concept, was imposed by colonial powers, which naturalized and idealized heteronormative white and European norms onto Black and brown bodies. This imposition has led to the perpetuation of gender norms and the binary framework, which has been used to justify exploitation and oppression.

The book also highlights how nationalism, particularly in Eastern Europe, has been used to reinforce traditional gender roles and the patriarchal family structure, opposing individualism and the "liberal ideology" associated with gender studies. This has implications for global gender politics as it reveals the interconnectedness of gender issues with broader social, political, and economic structures. The book suggests that a more inclusive and intersectional approach to gender is necessary to counteract the harmful effects of colonial legacies and nationalist ideologies, emphasizing the importance of translation and solidarity in fostering a more just and equitable global gender politics.

The "gender-critical" movement poses significant implications for feminism. It risks undermining feminist goals by promoting trans-exclusionary policies and censoring discussions on gender. The author argues that this movement misrepresents the concept of "critique" and fails to recognize the complexities of gender. By excluding trans and genderqueer perspectives, the movement perpetuates patriarchal norms and discriminates against those who challenge traditional gender roles.

The author emphasizes the importance of including trans and genderqueer perspectives within feminist discourse. This inclusion is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of gender and its intersections with other forms of oppression, such as racism and sexism. By engaging with diverse perspectives, feminism can evolve and address the needs of all individuals, fostering a more inclusive and just society. The author advocates for a critical imagination that can challenge oppressive norms and create new possibilities for gender expression and identity.

The book posits that the global struggle for gender equality and justice is intertwined with fears and opposition rooted in the phantasm of gender as a destructive force. It suggests a framework that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of gender, emphasizing its social and cultural construction rather than a fixed biological reality. The book argues for a counter-imaginary that affirms the rights and freedoms of embodied life, emphasizing the importance of translation and solidarity across languages and cultures.

Strategies for countering the phantasmatic fears include:

  1. Building coalitions: Forming alliances across diverse groups to combat the anti-gender movement, recognizing shared interests in equality and justice.
  2. Critical thinking and education: Encouraging open inquiry and critical analysis to understand the complexities of gender and its intersections with other forms of oppression.
  3. Translation and solidarity: Promoting translation to ensure that gender discourse is accessible and meaningful across different languages and cultures.
  4. Counter-imagining: Developing a vision that affirms the rights and freedoms of all individuals, emphasizing collective life and freedom from violence and discrimination.

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