Gender as Drag

I also liked how Butler used the example of drag to show how gender is a performance through socialization. Butler discusses gender in its performative nature to explain how there is no true definition of gender and that no true gender really exists. Her argument about drag further draws on the notion that gender can be performed in multiple different ways and that the attribution of characteristics of femininity or masculinity only stems from society's acceptance that certain attributes pertain to each biological sex. In the Lemert reading, Butler says, "When and where does my being lesbian come into play, when and where does this playing a lesbian constitute something like what I am?" (p.431). She says this to point out how the repeated play of her sexuality is what makes gender and identity unstable. Gender as drag goes to show that gender is not necessarily supposed to be something, but rather is an abstract concept that has been socially constructed to categorize our actions.

Although Butler makes some great points, she fails to recognize the relationship of gender categorization and people in society. The expectations that society has for each of the genders allows both people perceiving gender, and people doing gender to understand social actions. Her statement that gender can be performed in multiple ways is accurate, however in doing so people are unable to categorize individuals as the display cues are not compatible with what they see. To answer her question of: "When and where does my being lesbian come into play?", society is always judging the extent to which one is successful in doing their gender. Society's conclusion of Lesbian's not doing gender well enough, is what I suppose explains their marginalization. I do believe that Butler is right and probably does also understand society's reactions, however explaining it through a sociological lens may give her some more credit.