Judith Butlers idea of Gender Performativity

Born in 1956, Judith Butler is a renowned philosopher and gender theorist. Her influential work, notably in "Gender Trouble," introduced the concept of gender performativity. Butler suggests that gender is not innate but a social construct formed through repeated actions, challenging societal norms.

A fascinating idea by Judith Butler is the fact that each gender is a performance, meaning gender is not inborn; it is a social construct performed through repeated behaviors and cultural practices. Certain stigmas and norms have been created around how each gender is supposed to act, which not only forces people to conform but also compels them to do so due to societal pressure. One really important thing I always add within this theory is the fact that these sorts of stigmas are breaking with the newer generation, and this shift is something I want to show within my project. The rough idea involves a middle-aged father and his teenage son fighting over the son's desire for a music career, which the father opposes because he believes it cannot be a viable career. The theory applies here because the father is exhibiting traditional masculine behavior, which he has observed since childhood. Nowhere is it written that men need to have a well-earning job (even though music can be a well-earning career) or be the sole provider of the household, yet it is a clear stigma that has been created throughout time. This is what the father has been taught, so he can't go beyond that to teach his son otherwise.