Judith Butler begins "Subjects of Sex/Gender/Desire" by critiquing the distinction made between sex and gender. Butler ultimately argues that both are culturally constructed. She also takes on a postmodern approach and challenges the notion of a concrete feminine identity by suggesting that representations of “women” are constantly being negotiated through ethnicity, class, and sexuality. Therefore, there is no universal definition of gender. She disputes the traditional distinctions between sex and gender; that sex is biological and gender is culturally defined. Butler argues this notion by stating “...gender is culturally constructed: hence, gender is neither the causal result of sex nor as seemingly fixed as sex”. She also famously claimed that gender is performative, meaning it is what you are and what you do at certain times rather than a consistent and universal identity. Therefore, gender is fluid, it is not a static phenomena. The article goes on to state, "Gender ought not to be conceived merely as the cultural inscription of meaning on a pre-given sex (a juridical conception) gender must also designate the very apparatus of production whereby the sexes themselves are established." Gender is what society believes how specific sex should act, and behave.
In society today, there is a clear divide between fashion considered feminine and those considered masculine. However, is this a result of the fashion industry itself or is it the industry merely reflecting the changing attitudes of society as a whole? It is difficult to determine the distinction between gender reproduction and gender construction in the fashion industry. Fashion has been used to deconstruct gender stereotypes, as in 2011 most recent style for men: the skirt. In fact, feminine style for men is being adopted by some of the top designer including Givenchy, Emporio Armani and Calvin Klein.
However, the fashion industry has been used, time and time again as a means of reinforcing gender stereotypes. This is why children as young as three and four years old recognize that girls are supposed to wear dresses and have long hair while boys are not. The following video demonstrates some of the socially constructed gender stereotyping we as a society are imposing on our children:
Butler, J (1990) Subjects of Sex/Gender/Desire. In Szeman, I., Kaposy, T. (2011) Culture Theory: An Anthology (p. 134-138). Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell
June 12 2011, Off the Runway in 2011, Skirts for Men: Yes or No? OTSTYLE. Retrieved from: http://otstyle.com/?p=130 June 25th 2011
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