Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity

Discuss Butler's notion of gender performativity. How does it differ from the other major ways of theorizing gender?

Butler engages with the work of several significant feminists. Select one of the theorists included in Gender Trouble. Research that person's contributions to his or her field, then trace how Butler uses that person's ideas to advance her argument.

At present, almost thirty years has passed since the publication of Gender Trouble. Do some of the notions of "congealed" gender still apply? If so, what are they, and in what ways do you think gender identities today are more flexible based on what you know of Butler's era?